Plans for a council merger in west Suffolk have taken a significant step forward after the secretary of state announced his support for proposals.

Communities secretary Sajid Javid announced that he is minded to implement the plans to merge Forest Heath District and St Edmundsbury Borough Council into a single authority.

The minister said he reached his decision on the basis of the business plan for the merger which showed the new council would better help support services, provide greater value for money and enable stronger leadership.

He also highlighted the strong local support which had been shown for the proposals and said the merger made sense due to the shared geography of the councils.

The new single authority would replace both current councils, which would generate around £800,000 in savings and efficiencies, according to the councils.

Both councils agreed to send the business case to government for consideration and a legal order be drawn up ready to make the change with elections in 2019.

Councillor John Griffiths, St Edmundsbury Borough Council leader, said: “This is great news. It reflects the compelling argument we made and the general support there is for a new council that puts us in a better position to meet the aspirations of our communities.

“We have listened to local residents and organisations who agree lines on a map or council structures should not get in the way of providing services or hamper us from seizing opportunities for continued investment in our communities.

“The case for creating a new single council was compelling and once again puts us at the forefront of transforming how local government works to benefit directly the people we serve.

“Not only can we continue to deliver high quality services but we can better champion our area, drive the local economy, jobs and prosperity in west Suffolk while tackling the challenges facing all public services.

Councillor James Waters, leader of Forest Heath District Council, said: “We welcome the secretary of state’s announcement that he is minded to implement our proposals to further drive prosperity and better support our communities.

“The speed at which the secretary of state has made his announcement is a clear indication of the strength of our case and the recognition of the part we play now and in the future in helping drive the economy.

“Doing what is right for our communities is at the heart of what we do. The benefits to our residents is clear and there is strong support from local people, businesses and local organisations.

“Staying still is not an option if we are to meet future challenges and better champion our communities, both locally and nationally, as well as continuing to deliver high quality services.

“This means we are not only in a better position to have a louder voice but a real opportunity to find even more effective ways to work more closely and support our local organisations and residents. I look forward to helping create this new single council.”