Local government reorganisation (LGR): Latest updates & timeline
The landscape of England's local government is undergoing its most significant change in decades. For public sector professionals, this reorganisation creates both uncertainty and opportunity.
This page breaks down the most significant milestones for the transition to unitary authorities, outlining both previous and future steps for the local government workforce.
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Current phase | Next phase | Surrey's accelerated timeline | The timeline so far | About this page
Current phase: Post-consultation (November 2025 - January 2026)
The first major milestone of 2026 has been reached. Consultations for 6 areas closed on 11 January 2026.
Areas under review:
- East Sussex/Brighton
- Essex, Southend, Thurrock
- Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- West Sussex
Next steps:
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is currently reviewing feedback. Decisions on the final proposals for these new councils are expected by March 2026.
Workforce note: Authorities in these areas are now moving toward the Structural Changes Order (SCO) phase. This will require Joint Committees, which will oversee how authorities will merge and begin the transfer of staff and services.
Upcoming: 2nd wave of consultations (February 2026)
A seven-week consultation window is expected to open shortly for the remaining 14 areas, including:
- Midlands: Derbyshire/Derby, Nottinghamshire/Nottingham, Leicestershire/Leicester/Rutland, Staffordshire/Stoke, Warwickshire, Worcestershire.
- South & East: Kent/Medway, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire/Peterborough, Oxfordshire.
- North & West: Lancashire/Blackpool/Blackburn, Gloucestershire, Devon/Plymouth/Torbay.
- Greater Lincolnshire: Covering the county and the North/North East Lincolnshire unitaries.
During this consultation, each area will review their proposed unitary council structures. This is the final chance for staff and residents to give feedback before the MHCLG confirms the final "map" of new councils this summer.
What's next?
| Date | Milestone | Workforce impact |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Consultations to be published on the remaining 14 two-tier areas. | Work to continue as normal with roles protected under TUPE regulations. |
| March 2026 | Final government decisions on first consultations (Nov 25 - Jan 26). | Recruitment freeze reviews & senior leadership alignment begins. |
| May 2026 | Potential postponement of scheduled local elections. | Resource redirection could allow staff to focus on LGR instead of election cycles. |
| Summer 2026 | Government decision on remaining proposals (Feb 26). | Staff transfer planning begins for most transitioning authorities. |
| May 2027 | Shadow council elections | New "shadow" HR and legal structures will prepare for the LGR implementation. |
| April 2028 | Vesting day | Full merger of workforces and new councils launch. |
Shadow councils
Final decisions from the government are expected in Summer 2026, leading to "Shadow Council" elections in May 2027 (excluding Surrey, which will hold its elections in 2026). The shadow councils are temporary bodies that will be responsible for a smooth transition of service delivery.
Most new councils will officially "go live" on Vesting Day in April 2028, with Surrey launching a year earlier in 2027.
Surrey: The accelerated timeline
Due to a need to stabilise local finances, Surrey has been on an accelerated track for LGR.
The government has already confirmed Surrey's proposal for two unitary councils, comprised of East Surrey and West Surrey. In addition, £500 million of debt will be written off for Woking Borough Council in the 2026-67 financial year.
The county will hold shadow elections in May 2026, with expectations of the two unitary authorities beginning official operations in April 2027.
Timeline of Local Government Reorganisation so far
| December 2024 | The UK Government released the English Devolution White Paper, outlining its plans for local government reorganisation. |
| February 2025 | The government invited 21 areas with two-tier councils to submit proposals for potential unitary authorities. Councils were also given the option to postpone the May 2025 local elections. |
| March 2025 | All 21 areas were confirmed to have submitted at least one initial proposal. |
| June 2025 | The government confirmed how funding would be allocated to each area involved in LGR for the development of proposals. Consultation opened for proposals on local government in Surrey. |
| October 2025 | Surrey's proposal for two unitary authorities (East Surrey and West Surrey) was confirmed. |
| November 2025 | Consultations opened for authorities based in the greater Essex, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk areas. |
| December 2025 | The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness invited council leaders to provide opinions on the postponement of May 2026 local elections. |
| January 2026 | Consultations closed for authorities based in the greater Essex, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk areas. Government announced elections will be postponed for 29 councils in 2026. |
About this page
This page is updated regularly as new information becomes available. All information is based on official government announcements and publicly available documents.
Last updated: 22nd January 2026
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