Local Government Reorganisation – Update
On 29 October 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the next steps in its review of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England, confirming that reorganisation is moving forward in five specific areas, including Warwickshire.
Published: 29 October 2026
KEY DETAILS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Five Areas Going Ahead: Ministers are ‘minded to’ proceed with Local Government Reorganisation in five areas:
Gloucestershire: Seven councils into one unitary authority.
Worcestershire: Seven councils into two unitary authorities.
Warwickshire: Six councils into two unitary authorities.
Oxfordshire: Six Oxfordshire councils and West Berkshire into three unitary authorities.
East Sussex (including Brighton and Hove): Seven councils into two unitary authorities with boundary modifications.
Representations Period: There is a minimum three-week window for further representations before final decisions are made for these five areas.
Withdrawn Decisions and Timeline for Others: Previous decisions for 15 other areas have been withdrawn so they can be reconsidered, with final outcomes expected by early 2027.
Elections and Vesting Dates:
- Local council elections will still take place in May 2027 on existing council boundaries.
- Elections to shadow unitary councils will happen in May 2028.
- New unitary councils will formally go live (‘vesting day’) in April 2029 (a one-year delay from earlier plans).