Latest updates and timeline | Local government reorganisation (LGR)
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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Previous phase | Current phase | Surrey's accelerated timeline | The timeline so far | About this page
Previous phase: Consultation for the remaining counties closed
The first major milestone of this year was reached in January. Consultations for 6 areas closed on 11 January 2026 (East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, West Sussex). Decisions for 4 of these councils were announced on 25 March 2026:
- Essex
- Hampshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
On 26 March 2026, consultations also closed for the following 14 areas: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is still reviewing feedback from the consultations for East and West Sussex, and has yet to decide the configuration for these counties.
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.
Current phase: 2nd wave of consultations are now in review
The government will review consultation results for the proposals submitted by the remaining 14 areas, including:
- Midlands: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire/Leicester/Rutland, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire.
- South & East: Kent, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire.
- North & West: Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Devon.
- Greater Lincolnshire: Covering the county and the North/North East Lincolnshire unitaries.
The feedback from these consultations will allow the MHCLG to confirm the final "map" of new councils this Summer. It is currently estimated that these decisions will come in July.
What happens next with LGR?
| Date | Milestone | Workforce impact |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Remaining consultations for 14 counties close. Final government decisions on first consultations (Nov 25 - Jan 26). | Recruitment freeze reviews & senior leadership alignment begins. |
| May 2026 | Elections to take place. Surrey to elect two shadow councils. | Government to offer support to councils undertaking LGR during election cycles. |
| July 2026 | Government decision on remaining proposals. | Staff transfer planning begins for most transitioning authorities. |
| April 2027 | Vesting day for Surrey. | Surrey workforces merge and East and West Surrey authorities go live. |
| May 2027 | Shadow council elections for remaining 20 counties. | New "shadow" HR and legal structures will prepare for the LGR implementation. |
| April 2028 | Vesting day for remaining 20 counties. | Full merger of workforces and new councils launch. |
What are 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 in 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 their reorganisation.
The government has already confirmed a proposal for two unitary councils, comprised of East Surrey and West Surrey.
The county will hold shadow elections in May 2026, with the expectation that the two unitary authorities will begin 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. Legislation drafted to abolish current councils in Surrey. Government announced elections will be postponed for 30 councils in 2026. |
| February 2026 | Consultations opened for 14 areas: in Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Government U-turned on postponed elections. All council elections which were due in 2026 will proceed as normal. MHCLG released a playbook for councils providing resources for delivering LGR. |
| March 2026 | Government announced unitary council configurations for Essex, Hamshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Consultations closed for 14 areas: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. |
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: 28 March 2026
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