Preston Council Abandons Greater Preston Expansion Plans

Plans to create a 'Greater Preston' council area by incorporating parts of neighbouring South Ribble, Wyre, and Ribble Valley have been abandoned by Preston City Council due to the unlikelihood of securing government support. Initially proposed in December, the plan aimed to increase Preston's population by 89,000, bringing the total to around 250,000, in response to calls from local Labour MPs for a restructured local authority map. However, the government's devolution white paper indicated that Lancashire's councils would need to consolidate into larger authorities, each with populations of at least 500,000, effectively ruling out the smaller Greater Preston proposal. Local leaders had suggested merging with other councils, complicating the potential for a four-way consolidation. Despite the setback, Preston's council leader expressed a desire to revisit the idea if future opportunities arise. The decision reflects broader challenges in local governance reform across the region.