Decisions regarding flagship local government reorganisation schemes have been officially withdrawn as the government launches a review of its plans after receiving fresh legal advice.
According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the review will ensure that the entire process is robust and directly matches the new Government’s broader ambition to “rewire the state”, while acting in accordance with “updated and privileged legal advice”.
The decision follows growing pushback from local authorities, with a minimum of eight councils having already launched legal challenges or considering doing so due to firm opposition to the Government’s selected geographical footprints for the new councils.
Among them, the Reform UK-led Kent County Council is scheduled to consider a judicial review at a meeting on Tuesday, following a lack of response from the government to a formal letter detailing its concerns.
Restructuring plans across Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have now been withdrawn in light of the updated legal counsel. Meanwhile, decisions affecting 14 further regional areas will be paused and reviewed in parallel with the cases of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and West Sussex, which are yet to have any final decision confirmed.
The government is also set to confirm that upcoming local elections in May 2027 will proceed on existing council boundaries, maintaining that it stays committed to delivering effective and sustainable local government alongside simplified council structures.
Communities secretary Angela Rayner is expected to tell Parliament on Monday: “As we are now more determined than ever to devolve power closer to the people we represent, it’s only right that as a new Secretary of State I make sure that everything we do is working towards that plan to change Britain, without delay.
“The prime minister told the House last week he was ‘prepared to look at local government reorganisation’ and he asked me as his communities secretary to ‘do that’.
“In that context, in light of legal advice, I want to satisfy myself firstly that the right process is in place, that it is robust, and of course complies with the law.
“And, secondly, I want to fully test whether our proposals for local government reorganisation meet the priorities of a new administration and a new prime minister, and any additional considerations.
“I do not take this lightly. I recognise the huge amount of work that has already gone into progressing reorganisation in each of these areas and I am very grateful for it.”
MHCLG said reorganisation in Surrey will not be affected by the review and the two new unitary authorities, East and West Surrey, will go live in April 2027.
