Government launches six consultations on sweeping local government reorganisation plans

Seventeen proposals will be consulted upon across the consultations, which will cover East Sussex and Brighton and Hove; Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton; Norfolk; Suffolk; and West Sussex.

In a ministerial statement, Local Government Minister Alison McGovern said local government reorganisation is "at the heart our vision".

She added: "Empowered local government, based on unitary councils and strategic authorities, is the foundation for growth across the country – the Government's number one mission.

"Following the decision on reorganisation in Surrey, we are now looking forward to making progress across the rest of the country.

"With single councils in charge over sensible geographies, we will see quicker decisions to build homes, grow our towns and cities and connect people to jobs."

The consultations close on 11 January 2026 and seek views from all councils in the respective areas as well as neighbouring councils, and specified public service providers, including health providers and the police, and other business, voluntary and community sector and educational bodies.

The consultations also welcome responses from any other persons or organisations interested in these proposals, including residents, town and parish councils, businesses and the voluntary and community sector.

Where boundary changes are requested, the Government aims to consult the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

"Once the consultations have concluded, the Government will assess the proposals against the criteria in the invitation and decide, subject to parliamentary approval, which, if any, proposals are to be implemented, with or without modification," McGovern added.

The minister yesterday warned local authorities set to undergo reorganisation to adhere to publicity rules, urging them to "take particular care around the principles of objectivity and even-handedness, and the appropriate use of publicity".

Cllr Richard Wright, chair of the District Councils' Network, said: "It's to be welcomed that the Government is consulting on a broad range of proposals from councils to reorganise local government.

"The views of local people, who know their area best, should be absolutely central to determining the future of local government, rather than Whitehall imposing structures which pay no heed to local identity.

"We firmly expect local people to endorse proposals to keep councils close to communities, rather than impose mega councils, has they have recently in Surrey and in countless previous reorganisations. It's essential they're listened to, whatever they say."

Cllr Wright also said there was "no independent evidence that mega councils are better performing or more financially resilient".

Cllr Matthew Hicks, chair of the County Councils Network (CCN), meanwhile said: "County councils have worked hard to put forward positive proposals that will improve services and deliver fewer, leaner councils, in line with the started criteria that new councils should have a population above 500,000 and minimise the fragmentation of vital care services.

"These are underpinned by robust evidence that demonstrates new councils will be able deliver savings to reinvest in frontline services, safeguard care to the most vulnerable and foster the economic growth this country desperately needs."

He said the Government and stakeholders must "closely scrutinise" the proposals against the Government's LGR criteria, adding: "CCN remains concerned that some of the proposals put out to consultation propose unprecedented boundary changes that will alter the landscape of our historic counties and risk splitting high performing care services into smaller councils well below the government's stated criteria, while promising hundreds of millions of in savings to adult and children's services with little supporting evidence."

The full list of proposals are as follows:

Four proposals from councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock:

Braintree District Council, Essex County Council and Epping Forest District Council submitted a proposal for three unitary councils.
Thurrock Council submitted a proposal for four unitary councils.
Rochford District Council submitted a proposal for four unitary councils.
Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council submitted a proposal for five unitary councils.

Four proposals from councils in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton:

East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council submitted a proposal for four unitary councils.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, New Forest District Council and Test Valley Borough Council submitted a proposal for five unitary councils.
Winchester City Council submitted a separate proposal for five unitary councils.
Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Southampton City Council also submitted a proposal for five unitary councils.

All four proposals leave the Isle of Wight unchanged as an existing unitary council. Gosport Borough Council and Isle of Wight Council did not submit a proposal.

Three proposals from councils in Norfolk:

Norfolk County Council submitted a proposal for one unitary council.
South Norfolk District Council submitted a proposal for two unitary councils.
Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, and Norwich City Council submitted a proposal for three unitary councils.

Two proposals from councils in Suffolk:

Suffolk County Council submitted a proposal for one unitary council.
Babergh District Council, East Suffolk District Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and West Suffolk District Council submitted a proposal for three unitary councils.

Two proposals from councils in West Sussex:

West Sussex County Council submitted a proposal for one unitary council.
Arun District Council, Adur District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid-Sussex District Council and Worthing Borough Council submitted a proposal for two unitary councils.

Adam Carey