Government sets next steps for council reorganisation in five English areas

The government is minded to proceed with local government reorganisation proposals in five English areas, including Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, but says it will accept further representations for at least three weeks before making final decisions.

The other areas are East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the next steps on October 29 following a review of the programme.

Different proposals by area

The proposals under consideration would create one unitary council in Gloucestershire, three in Oxfordshire and two each in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The East Sussex and Brighton and Hove proposal involves two authorities and proposed boundary changes, excluding Falmer parish. These are the government’s preferred options at this stage, not final decisions.

Fifteen other areas remain under review, including nine where previously announced decisions have been withdrawn. The ministry says withdrawal does not cancel reorganisation and expects outcomes for those areas by early next year. Local elections there are scheduled for May 2027 on existing boundaries; new councils are planned for 2029, with shadow council elections in May 2028.

Surrey’s separate reorganisation remains unaffected, with East and West Surrey unitary councils due to begin in April 2027, according to the ministry.