The Government have given more information on what is happening with local government reorganisation [LGR] in England. Although five areas have had previous decisions confirmed [subject to final consultation], a further 15 areas are still awaiting decisions which may not come until early 2027. This means continued uncertainty in these areas and less time overall for councils to plan for and implement the changes. It also means that VCFSE organisations reliant on funding from local authorities have to face more uncertainty, paused budgets or spending freezes.
Five areas going ahead
Following the announcement in September 2026 of a review of plans for local government reorganisation, the Government have now identified five areas where they are ‘minded’ to proceed with the plans as outlined below:
• In East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, the two unitary proposal of East Sussex Council bringing together the seven existing district councils; and Brighton and Hove Council with boundary changes to include four wards from Lewes District.
• A single unitary proposal in Gloucestershire bringing together the current six district councils.
• The three unitary proposal in Oxfordshire of Greater Oxford Council, Northern Oxfordshire Council, and Ridgeway Council. There will be boundary changes which include West Berkshire Council becoming part of Ridgeway Council.
• The two unitary proposal in Warwickshire with the creation of North Warwickshire and South Warwickshire Councils.
• The two unitary proposal in Worcestershire with the creation of North Worcestershire and South Worcestershire Councils.
There will be a period of a minimum of three weeks for further representations before the final decisions are taken by the Secretary of State.
For these five areas, elections to the new councils will take place in May 2028, with vesting [the legal establishment of the council] in April 2029.
What is happening elsewhere?
MHCLG has stated that further time is required to consider the outcome in nine areas and the decisions made and announced in July 2026 have been withdrawn. This means that all the evidence submitted will be analysed again and the decisions reconsidered. It does not automatically mean that the outcome will be different from the announcements in July 2026, but this is likely to be the case. Also, this does not reflect the quality of the proposals submitted by councils, and all options and proposals in each area will remain under consideration as part of the review. The nine areas affected 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
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
You can read the Minister’s letter to these councils here.
A further four areas had their decisions withdrawn in September 2026 and the review process for these is still on going. They are:
• Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock
• Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton
• Norfolk
• Suffolk.
In two other areas, West Sussex and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, no decisions were announced in July 2026, proposals are still to be considered.
You can read the Minister’s letter to these councils here.
MHCLG has stated that it will publish updates and outcomes on more areas by Christmas and that every area will know the final decisions by early 2027.
This also has implications for forthcoming elections. These 15 areas will hold elections to existing councils in May 2027. There will then be elections to the new councils in May 2028 with vesting [the legal establishment of the council] in April 2029.