Latest updates

7 September 2026

Local Government Reorganisation plans are put on hold has the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announces the withdrawal of the current decisions across four areas and the review of the LGR programme.

16 July 2026

A major Written Ministerial Statement confirms structural decisions across the final 14 areas—ranging from single unitaries (Gloucestershire) to 4 unitaries (Devon, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire). Comprehensive national guidance on sector support, staffing, adult social care, and public health transitions is also published.

 

2026

12 May 2026

Consultations open on potential modifications to LGR proposals in East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, and West Sussex.

25 March 2026

Decisions are officially announced for Phase 1 regions: Essex (5 unitaries), Hampshire (5 unitaries), Norfolk (3 unitaries), and Suffolk (3 unitaries). Updates are also provided for Sussex.

9 March 2026

The Minister signs the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, legally establishing East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council from 1 April 2027.

16 February 2026

The Secretary of State writes to council leaders in LGR areas regarding proposed May 2026 election postponements, superseding previous correspondence from December and January.

5 February 2026

Statutory consultations open for unitary proposals across the remaining 14 regions (including Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and Staffordshire).

29 January 2026

Further representations regarding election timing are received from Pendle Borough and Essex County Council.

22 January 2026

A Written Ministerial Statement confirms decisions regarding local election timing in LGR regions.

19 January 2026

The Secretary of State requests positional clarity from 4 councils regarding election timing.

15 January 2026

Deadline for council representations on the potential postponement of May 2026 local elections.

 

2025

18 December 2025

The government writes to council leaders in LGR areas regarding the potential postponement of May 2026 local elections to release delivery capacity.

28 November 2025

Final proposals across the remaining 14 areas (including Lancashire, Kent, Devon, Derbyshire, and Warwickshire) are formally submitted.

19 November 2025

Statutory consultations open for unitary proposals across 6 sub-regions (Sussex, Essex, Hampshire/Isle of Wight, Norfolk, and Suffolk). Council leaders are also reminded of Publicity Code compliance.

28 October 2025

A Written Ministerial Statement confirms the formal decision to establish 2 unitary councils in Surrey.

26 September 2025

Final LGR proposals are submitted by councils across 6 areas: East Sussex & Brighton; Essex, Southend & Thurrock; Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth & Southampton; Norfolk; Suffolk; and West Sussex.

17 June 2025

A Written Ministerial Statement announces the statutory consultation on Surrey’s unitary proposals.

3 June 2025

A Written Ministerial Statement outlines Proposal Development Contribution allocations and confirms all areas have received feedback on their interim plans.

8 May 2025

Councils in Surrey submit final unitary proposals for their area.

24 March 2025

A Written Ministerial Statement confirms responses were received from all 21 invited areas and announces £7.6 million in Local Government Reorganisation Proposal Development Contributions.

5 February 2025

The Minister issues a statutory invitation to target councils to develop proposals for unitary government, requesting interim plans by 21 March 2025.

 

2024

16 December 2024

The English Devolution White Paper is published, setting out the government’s vision for simpler local government structures. The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution writes to all councils in remaining two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries to propose a joint programme of devolution and reorganisation.

 

Data collated from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and last updated on 07/09/2026.