Mayor proposes expanding city's boundary

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby believes the city's current political boundaries should be expanded.

The Labour politician said the city's border was a "historic accident" ahead of Leicester City Council submitting proposals to redraw the local political map.

The government plans to streamline local government and have a mayor for every region of England.

The city council, Leicestershire County Council and the county's seven district authorities and Rutland County Council are expected to lodge initial rival proposals with Whitehall by 21 March.

Soulsby has not revealed the specifics of the city council proposals but he said: "Both the county and the districts, I think, are making the mistake of trying to constrain the present boundaries, particularly of the city.

"Those boundaries are an historic accident.

"The opportunity to try and rationalise that is important in terms of good governance but it's also important in terms of the city being able to deliver the much-needed housing for our greater Leicester area and, indeed, to have a secure financial base for the future."

Pressed on where he thought new boundaries should be drawn, Soulsby said there were areas around the city that were already "effectively a part of the urban area".

However, he said he was also considering areas just beyond the city boundaries that are currently being developed or would be in the future.

He also suggested the replacement of existing councils with a new combined authority would "unlock" the potential for the city being led by a strategic mayor - an idea he has previously opposed.

Soulsby went on to say he continued to oppose Leicester joining the East Midlands Combined Authority - which covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire - and that he would work closely with other political leaders in Leicestershire on future proposals.

A petition started by Leicestershire Tory MPs Alicia Kearns, Peter Bedford and Neil O'Brien, opposing the expansion of the city, has so far been signed by 4,795 people.

Leicestershire County Council has already outlined proposals to create one unitary authority for the whole county - replacing itself and the districts and boroughs - sitting around the city's current boundaries.

The districts' favoured model is for three unitary councils across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

A North Leicestershire and Rutland council would serve the area currently covered by Charnwood borough, North West Leicestershire district, Melton borough and Rutland County Council.

A separate South Leicestershire council would cover the areas of Blaby district, Harborough district, Hinckley and Bosworth borough and Oadby and Wigston borough councils.

Leicester city would remain unchanged.

Both proposals are now open for public consultation on the respective council websites.

Authorities are proposing more public engagement in the summer, as final proposals for local government reform must be submitted by 28 November 2025.

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