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While councils adapt to new structures, residents still need a clear and trusted way to stay informed and connected.

The next few years will bring sweeping changes to how councils are structured and how local services are delivered. As two-tier systems move toward single-tier unitary models across the country, councils face a period of uncertainty, reorganisation, and increased public scrutiny.
Loci is here to help.
We provide a stable, resident-first platform that helps councils deliver a trusted digital experience throughout the transition and beyond, no matter what your final structure looks like or where in the journey you and your residents are.

We understand what you're facing

The Government’s roadmap to unitary transition is ambitious and wide-reaching. For councils, it means navigating major organisational and cultural change. What does that look like on the ground?

Mergers of county and district councils

Two-tier structures are being replaced by new unitary authorities, requiring the consolidation of services, leadership, budgets, and systems. Councils must unify ways of working, rebuild governance processes, and deliver continuity – all while staying focused on day-to-day service delivery.

Changes to data, staffing, elections and public communication

Staff roles are being redefined. Datasets need to be merged, mapped and retagged. Election cycles are shifting, with some delayed to match new structures. Councils must manage all this while keeping residents informed, often with comms teams already stretched thin.

Residents unsure of where to turn, or who to contact

Even before reorganisation, residents can struggle to know which council provides which service. Now, as names change and responsibilities shift, this confusion deepens leading to misdirected contact, increased support calls, and a growing sense of disconnection from local government.

Concerns about local identity being lost in larger governance structures

As boundaries expand and councils merge, there’s a risk that smaller communities feel absorbed or overlooked. Local identity — rooted in town, parish and neighbourhood life — can get diluted in broader administrative units unless care is taken to keep it visible, valued and supported.

What does this all mean for residents?

Even under stable conditions, many residents struggle to know where to go for local information. Services are split across tiers, websites vary in quality, and responsibilities aren’t always clear.

The shift to unitary structures only increases that confusion.

As boundaries are redrawn and roles change, there’s a real risk that residents are left unsure, disengaged, or misinformed.

Residents need a consistent, location-aware space that adapts as councils change. Ensuring residents stay connected, informed and involved, even if the structure behind the scenes is in flux.

Crucially, we need to protect what matters most in the shift to unitary: a sense of local identity.

Why Loci is the right partner for right now

We are not a council website builder. We are not another database interface.

Loci is a nationally available – locally focused digital platform designed around residents. It helps residents understand where they are, what services apply to them, and who to contact, regardless of local government boundaries or authority structure.

Here’s just a few ways we help you and your residents manage the transition confidently:

A national platform with local precision

Loci is free and available to every UK resident, always. Whether your council is a district, a county, a shadow authority or a future unitary, Loci ensures access to core services to every UK resident.

Structural resilience built in

Ward boundaries shifting? Data sources changing? Shadow governance overlapping? Loci is designed for this fluidity. Our platform remains consistent for residents even as your organisation evolves.

Resident trust and continuity

While councils merge and restructure, Loci provides residents with a clear, familiar and trusted space.

Flexible through the transition

You can partner with Loci now without needing to commit to a long-term structure or new IT stack. We integrate with existing systems, support phased rollouts, and avoid technical lock-in.

How Loci helps councils navigate structural change

Loci isn’t a siloed tool built for isolated deployments. It’s a national, resident-first platform designed to meet the everyday needs of the public, regardless of council structure. Whether you're two-tier, transitioning, or newly unitary, Loci is built to support continuity, clarity and connection at every stage. Here’s how we help:

1. Resident-first, not council-first

The challenge:
Residents don’t think in tiers. They just want to know where to go. But in most areas, council structures split services across websites and departments, leaving people confused, especially during change.

Why this matters:
Loci provides every resident with a personalised civic experience based on their address, rather than the current structure behind it. This consistency builds trust and reduces friction, even as the underlying map of responsibilities evolves.

2. Nationally available to all residents from day one

The challenge:
During reorganisation, councils may pause engagement or delay rollout, waiting for new structures to form. But residents still need services, consultation and engagement now.

Why this matters:
Loci is available in every UK locality and available to all residents from day one, even where no formal partnership exists. It ensures uninterrupted access before, during and after any reorganisation and guarantees that services won’t disappear during transition.

3. Built for structural fluidity

The challenge:
Boundaries change. Responsibilities move. Shadow authorities overlap. Digital systems and labels don’t always keep up.

Why this matters:
Loci is anchored in place, not organisational structure. When ward boundaries shift or data ownership changes, the platform stays consistent for residents. Councils don’t need to know their final configuration to start using Loci.

4. Flexible integration and ‘off-the-shelf’ data management

The challenge:
Councils often hesitate to adopt new platforms mid-restructure due to complexity, cost, or legacy systems that don’t integrate easily.

Why this matters:
Loci works with what you already have. Whether it’s a CMS, third-party API, or open data feed, we can pull and display relevant, trusted information to residents without requiring a system overhaul. Councils can pilot Loci with minimal commitment, and expand at their own pace.

5. Communication bridge during uncertainty

The challenge:
Structural change creates information gaps. Residents are left wondering:
“Who’s in charge now?”
“Where do I vote?”
“Will this service still be available?”

Why this matters:
Loci helps councils communicate clearly without needing a comms overhaul. You can share updates, FAQs and service changes in real time, targeted by location. This reduces pressure on overstretched comms teams and ensures no one is left in the dark.

6. Managing the restructure responsibly

The challenge:
Without data, it’s hard to see who’s being reached and who’s being left behind. This is especially true during transition periods, when governance and service delivery are in flux.

Why this matters:
Loci provides real-time analytics that show how residents are using the platform, what they’re searching for, and where gaps may exist. Councils can track awareness across wards, monitor engagement, and proactively support underserved areas, helping ensure the restructure delivers equity as well as efficiency.

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Why act now

Waiting until the dust settles may feel safer. But your residents are making decisions and forming habits now.

If you wait:

  • Residents may lose clarity and connection during key years of change
  • Your comms team will bear the brunt of managing uncertainty
  • Valuable data and trust-building opportunities will be lost

Partnering with Loci now means

  • Proactive, supportive messaging during transition
  • Real-time usage and location-based insights
  • Residents have a consistent and trusted space

Want to discuss?

Talk to us about how Loci can support your council now, before the headlines change and the boundaries move.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: We're not sure what our future structure will be. Should we wait before engaging with Loci?

A: No need to wait. Loci is positioned to function across two-tier, unitary, shadow or transitional models. The platform delivers a consistent experience to residents regardless of governance structure, meaning you can partner with Loci now without needing to define your end state. In fact, early engagement helps provide continuity as change unfolds.

Q2: What happens if our council merges or changes name during the restructure?
A: Loci’s backend architecture is designed around place and people, not static authority names. Manage changes in labels, boundaries and ownership without disruption to residents. Whether a district council becomes part of a new unitary or an entirely new body is formed, Loci remains available to all residents and accurate throughout.
Q3: Is this just another council website provider?
A: No. Loci is not a CMS or a replacement for your council’s corporate site. It’s a community platform built for residents that exists alongside your current systems and helps people navigate services, information and local life in a personalised, accessible way.
Q4: How does Loci support communication during the transition?
A: Councils can use Loci to publish structured updates, FAQs, local service notices and transition messaging. Residents are shown the most relevant content for their area and notified when something changes. This ensures consistent, proactive communication throughout periods of structural change.
Q5: Will it work with our existing systems and data?
A: Yes. Loci integrates flexibly with existing data feeds, open data portals, and third-party systems. Our platform is built to pull relevant information from wherever it lives, without needing bespoke integrations or overhauls. We work with what you have today and what you might use tomorrow.
Q6: What if our residents are already confused about who does what?
A: That’s exactly the problem Loci solves. The platform is address-based, so residents see the right services, organisations and contacts without needing to understand the structure behind them. Loci removes the uncertainty and offers clarity where it’s most needed.
Q7: How is Loci funded and sustained?

A: Loci operates as a mission-led, values-driven organisation. Our shared value partnership model means core platform access is free for councils and residents. Councils can optionally move from a passive model to proactive resident engagement partnership including reporting tools as needed. Our model avoids profit-first pressure and ensures accessibility for all local authorities and most importantly access to all residents nationally from day one.

Q8: What are you asking of councils?

A: We’re asking for consultation, collaboration, and partnership. There’s no need to allocate new budgets, integrate systems, or commit to custom work. Loci is designed to be simple, sustainable and council-friendly from day one.

Q9: Can Loci help us track and improve resident engagement?

A: Absolutely. Loci includes built-in analytics with the engagement partnership that help you understand who’s engaging, which areas may be under-served, and what information is most valuable. This ensures no neighbourhood is left behind during reorganisation.

Q10: How quickly can we get started?

A: Partnership is available to all councils today. We’ll provide templates, guidance, onboarding support, and a partnership model that’s right for you and meets your needs today, and into the future.