Councils plan to split Devon into three

Devon would be split into three unitary authorities under plans backed by district councils

Devon should be split into three unitary authorities in a huge shake-up of local government, according to the district councils in the county.

All of the district councils and the county council will be abolished in the biggest national reorganisation of local government for 50 years.

The existing district councils say they want to see a new unitary authority across north and east Devon and Exeter, a second unitary authority covering the south and west of the county and Plymouth staying as it is.

The plans are at odds with proposals put forward by Plymouth and Exeter, which both want to expand, and by Devon County Council with Torbay yet to announce its plans.

District councils in Devon want to see two new unitary authorities created in Devon and Plymouth to continue as it is

The district councils are backing what is known as the 4-5-1 proposal.

It involves one unitary authority for West Devon, Teignbridge, South Hams and Torbay.

A second unitary authority for North Devon, Torridge, Mid Devon, East Devon and Exeter.

Plymouth remaining as a standalone unitary authority.

In a joint statement on behalf of all district council leaders, they said: "Our proposal aims to create a more effective and financially sustainable local government for Devon by aligning council boundaries with real communities and local economies."

Setting out its reorganisation plans, the government has said it would like to see new unitary authorities with a population of about 500,000 but the figure is "a guiding principle, not a target".

Plymouth City Council has said it wants to expand into parts of the South Hams to increase its population while Exeter City Council wants to expand in all directions.

Devon County Council announced its plans in September to keep the county looking broadly as it does now and keeping Torbay and Plymouth unitary authorities in place.

All of the councils will need to submit their plans for reorganisation by 28 November with final decisions to be made by the government.