The Government has withdrawn local government reorganisation decisions affecting nine more areas of England, leaving 15 areas awaiting final outcomes as ministers reconsider plans to replace existing council structures.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed the move on Thursday 29 October 2026. Ministers say reorganisation has not been cancelled and all outstanding areas will receive an outcome by early 2027.
Nine more areas have decisions withdrawn
The affected areas are Derbyshire and Derby; Devon, Plymouth and Torbay; Hertfordshire; Kent and Medway; Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool; Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland; Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire; Nottinghamshire and Nottingham; and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Four earlier withdrawn decisions cover Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton; Norfolk; and Suffolk. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex are awaiting decisions, making 15 areas in all.
Five areas move closer to new councils
Ministers are minded to proceed with a one-unitary proposal in Gloucestershire, three in Oxfordshire, two in Warwickshire and two in Worcestershire. In East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, they favour a two-unitary proposal with specified boundary changes, excluding Falmer parish from Brighton and Hove’s requested changes. These are not final decisions: a period of at least three weeks for further representations will precede final determinations.
Essex council shake-up remains unresolved
The previous decision for Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock was withdrawn on 7 September 2026 following updated legal advice and a programme review. The area remains under consideration. Withdrawal does not mean reorganisation has been cancelled or that a particular alternative has been chosen.
May 2027 elections will go ahead
Local elections scheduled for May 2027 will take place on existing council boundaries in affected areas. Elections to shadow councils are planned for May 2028, with new councils established in 2029. Surrey is unaffected: East and West Surrey are due to go live in April 2027.
Funding for preparatory work
Areas with previous decisions will receive £450,000 per previously announced new unitary authority from a £63 million capacity fund to cover implementation costs already incurred. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex will each receive £500,000. The Government says remaining funding will be paid after final decisions. The announcement does not quantify any total expenditure that might be wasted if proposals change.
Government maintains commitment
Local Government Minister Jim McMahon says the programme remains part of plans to devolve power. Ministers have also pledged to consider ways to protect city status, including legislation if necessary. The review reflects concerns about the approach and pace of the programme, but does not itself settle whether alternative council structures would deliver better services or lower costs.
What happens next?
Ministers will consider further representations in the five areas where they are minded to proceed. The remaining 15 areas, including Essex, are promised outcomes by early 2027. Decisions will shape future responsibility for services such as social care, planning, highways and waste collection.