Map reveals what Ipswich's new council boundaries will look like
The Government has published the official boundaries for Ipswich's new unitary authority, which will absorb dozens of parishes from neighbouring Babergh, Mid Suffolk and East Suffolk districts when it takes over local government in 2028.
Why it matters: The map, released alongside a Government briefing note, is the clearest picture yet of how Suffolk will be carved up under local government reorganisation — and confirms which communities outside the current Ipswich borough will fall under the new authority, to be known provisionally as the Ipswich and South Suffolk area, but referred to by many as 'Greater Ipswich'.
The details: Suffolk's six county, district and borough councils are to be scrapped and replaced with three new unitary authorities with greater powers. The three new bodies — provisionally named Western Suffolk, Central and Eastern Suffolk, and Ipswich and South Suffolk — will hold their first elections in May 2027 and take on full powers in April 2028.
The new Ipswich and South Suffolk (Greater Ipswich) authority will serve a population of 257,000, according to the Government. As well as the whole of the existing Ipswich borough area, it will take in 31 parishes from Babergh, eight from Mid Suffolk and 25 from East Suffolk.
The bigger picture: The other two new authorities will cover larger populations. The Western Suffolk unitary will serve 269,000 people, taking in the current West Suffolk Council area, Babergh — minus 31 parishes — and 21 parishes from Mid Suffolk. The Central and Eastern Suffolk authority will have a population of 261,000, covering Mid Suffolk minus 29 parishes, and East Suffolk minus 25 parishes.
The bottom line: The new authorities will exist alongside current structures until they can take on their full powers in April 2028. Official names for all three bodies are yet to be decided. A full list of parish council areas moving into each new unitary authority area is available in the Government's briefing note.
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