The Conservatives have gained the Great Dunmow North ward on Uttlesford District Council after Will Church secured victory in Thursday's by-election.
Church won the seat with 50.5% of the vote, comfortably ahead of Reform UK candidate Daniel Cowan, who finished second with 27.9%.
Residents for Uttlesford, who previously held the seat, finished third, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats also contested the election.
Great Dunmow North by-election result
- Will Church — Conservative: 50.5%
- Daniel Cowan — Reform UK: 27.9%
- Residents for Uttlesford: 9.9%
- Labour: 9.0%
- Liberal Democrat: 2.7%
The by-election was held on 30 July 2026 following the death of a Residents for Uttlesford councillor, creating a vacancy on Uttlesford District Council.
The result represents a Conservative gain from Residents for Uttlesford, with the party overturning localist representation in the ward.
Reform UK recorded a strong second-place finish on its first appearance in the ward, taking almost three in every ten votes. However, the Conservatives established a clear lead to secure the seat.
Residents for Uttlesford, a long-established local residents' group that has been influential in Uttlesford politics for many years, saw its vote share fall significantly compared with the 2023 district council elections.
The result provides a boost for the Conservatives in Uttlesford while demonstrating Reform UK's continued ability to attract support in Essex, despite falling short of victory in this contest.
Will Church was formally declared elected as the new district councillor for Great Dunmow North following the declaration of the result.