diff --git a/app/broadcast_areas/models.py b/app/broadcast_areas/models.py
index ba61fb915..271da834f 100644
--- a/app/broadcast_areas/models.py
+++ b/app/broadcast_areas/models.py
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ class BroadcastArea(BaseBroadcastArea, SortableMixin):
     def ancestors(self):
         return list(self._ancestors_iterator)
 
+    @cached_property
+    def parent(self):
+        return next(iter(self.ancestors), None)
+
     @property
     def _ancestors_iterator(self):
         id = self.id
diff --git a/app/broadcast_areas/utils.py b/app/broadcast_areas/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc50d95c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/broadcast_areas/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+def aggregate_areas(areas):
+    areas = _aggregate_wards_by_local_authority(areas)
+    return areas
+
+
+def _aggregate_wards_by_local_authority(areas):
+    return {
+        area.parent if area.id.startswith('wd20-')
+        else area for area in areas
+    }
diff --git a/tests/app/broadcast_areas/custom_polygons.py b/tests/app/broadcast_areas/custom_polygons.py
index 7e8ceda16..03a0dcc47 100644
--- a/tests/app/broadcast_areas/custom_polygons.py
+++ b/tests/app/broadcast_areas/custom_polygons.py
@@ -21,3 +21,19 @@ SANTA_A = [
     [25.8910, 66.5500],
     [25.889, 66.55000],
 ]
+
+BURFORD = [
+    [51.8925, -1.7495],
+    [51.7372, -1.7825],
+    [51.7159, -1.5257],
+    [51.8866, -1.5037],
+    [51.8925, -1.7495],
+]
+
+CHELTENHAM = [
+    [51.9324, -2.1265],
+    [51.8633, -2.1306],
+    [51.8637, -2.0242],
+    [51.9328, -2.0221],
+    [51.9324, -2.1265],
+]
diff --git a/tests/app/broadcast_areas/test_utils.py b/tests/app/broadcast_areas/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d9db48c0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/app/broadcast_areas/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+import pytest
+
+from app.broadcast_areas.utils import aggregate_areas
+from app.models.broadcast_message import BroadcastMessage
+from tests import broadcast_message_json
+from tests.app.broadcast_areas.custom_polygons import (
+    BRISTOL,
+    BURFORD,
+    CHELTENHAM,
+    SANTA_A,
+    SKYE,
+)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(('area_ids', 'expected_area_names'), [
+    (
+        [
+            'wd20-E05004294',  # Hester’s Way, Cheltenham (electoral ward)
+            'wd20-E05010981',  # Painswick & Upton, Stroud (electoral ward)
+        ], [
+            'Cheltenham',  # in Gloucestershire (upper tier authority)
+            'Stroud',  # in Gloucestershire
+        ],
+    ),
+    (
+        [
+            'wd20-E05004294',  # Hester’s Way, Cheltenham (electoral ward)
+            'wd20-E05009372',  # Hackney Central (electoral ward)
+        ], [
+            'Cheltenham',  # in Gloucestershire (upper tier authority)
+            'Hackney',  # in Greater London* (DB doesn't know this)
+        ],
+    ),
+    (
+        [
+            'lad20-E07000037',  # High Peak (lower tier authority)
+        ],
+        [
+            'High Peak',  # in Derbyshire (upper tier authority)
+        ]
+    ),
+    (
+        [
+            'lad20-E07000037',  # High Peak (lower tier authority)
+            'lad20-E07000035',  # Derbyshire Dales (lower tier authority)
+        ],
+        [
+            'Derbyshire Dales',  # in Derbyshire (upper tier authority)
+            'High Peak',  # in Derbyshire
+        ]
+    ),
+    (
+        [
+            'ctry19-E92000001',  # England
+        ],
+        [
+            'England',
+        ]
+    )
+])
+def test_aggregate_areas(
+    area_ids,
+    expected_area_names,
+):
+    broadcast_message = BroadcastMessage(
+        broadcast_message_json(area_ids=area_ids)
+    )
+
+    assert sorted(
+        area.name for area in aggregate_areas(broadcast_message.areas)
+    ) == expected_area_names