West Sussex local authorities were expecting a decision from the Government on local government reorganisation in our area by the end of March. The Government has today issued an update. They have not made a decision on which unitary solution to apply in Sussex and instead have confirmed they will be running a second consultation on plans covering the whole of Sussex.
New consultation
The new consultation will see two variations on the proposals already submitted by Sussex local authorities. The first proposed modification is moving Chichester District Council into a unitary with Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council. Leaving a second unitary in West Sussex comprising Arun District Council, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council.
The second modification would see boundary changes moving wards in Falmer, Peacehaven and Saltdean from Lewes District Council in East Sussex to Brighton & Hove City Council.
The consultation will begin after the local elections in May, and a decision is expected in the summer after the consultation period closes and new representations are considered. The overall timescale for reorganisation remains the same with elections to the new shadow unitary authorities expected in 2027 preparing for the new authorities to formally launch in 2028.
Risk of transition issues
The delay is disappointing, as the ongoing uncertainty reduces the time available for planning and preparation on the final decision and heightens the risks to delivering a smooth transition for our residents.
All councils in West Sussex remain committed to working together in the best interests of our communities, and we will continue to collaborate closely as we await further clarity from Government. We will be sharing the consultation information and further details as they become available.
‘Not the outcome we were hoping for…’
Commenting on the decision, Horsham District Council Leader Cllr Martin Boffey said:
“This is certainly not the outcome we were hoping for today as we were expecting, after such a protracted length of time and concerted efforts from all local Councils, to finally receive a clear decision from the government on our local government reorganisation and have a measure of certainty about the future. However, the government has decided to conduct further consultation after the local elections on the final structure for local councils and future of local services. Disappointing though this delay is, our focus now must be to keep working constructively and responsibly to champion the interests of Horsham District’s residents, businesses and communities through our response to this consultation, and ensure those interests are fully protected as the process continues forward. We will continue to work collaboratively with government and neighbouring authorities to make this reorganisation a success, ensuring the eventual smooth transition that our residents deserve and safeguarding the high-quality services they rely on.”
The government statement is available at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-03-25/hcws1455 and the latest correspondence is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c3d6e4cdfd19de13d0f59e/SoS_-_Letter_to_Sussex_Leaders_25.03.26.pdf
