 The district was formed in 1974 by a merger of Ashby de la Zouch Urban District, Ashby Woulds Urban District, Coalville Urban District, Ashby de la Zouch Rural District, Castle Donington Rural District and Ibstock from the Market Bosworth Rural District.Like many other shire districts, authority over North West Leicestershire is shared between the district council and the county council.Areas of responsibility of the district council include local planning, building control, council housing, refuse collection, recycling, and some leisure services and parks.