Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Thursday 26 March 2026
Changes coming to Greater Essex | Essex Local Government Reorganisation Hub
Your questions answered | Essex Local Government Reorganisation Hub
Wednesday 25 March 2026
The government has announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Essex, confirming the county will move to five new unitary councils, subject to parliamentary approval.
The creation of five unitary councils - West Essex Council, North East Essex Council, Mid Essex Council, South West Essex Council and South East Essex Council - means that from April 2028, these unitary authorities will replace the current 15 councils across Greater Essex, who will have responsibility for delivering all services in one area including waste collections, planning, adult social care, highways, children’s services and more.
LGR aims to simplify council structures by creating new, more streamlined local councils that work better, making it easier for residents to access and navigate services.
Government has also confirmed their commitment to repayment in-principle of £200m of Thurrock Council debt.
A video from the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Essex Leaders and Chief Executives group can be viewed here
Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council and Chair of the Essex Leaders and Chief Executives group, made up of all 15 councils, said: “We welcome the government’s decision to create five new unitary councils for Greater Essex.
“There were strong options for how local government reorganisation could be shaped across the county, and now a decision has been made our focus is firmly on working together to deliver it. Councils across Greater Essex have worked closely to prepare for this next phase, and that collaboration will continue.
“Local Government Reorganisation gives us the opportunity to save money, simplify how people access services and strengthen local communities, delivering better outcomes for residents and businesses.
“We will now work collectively to develop a clear and robust plan until spring 2028. The people of Essex deserve the best possible councils, and we are committed to delivering a future that makes Essex an even better place to live and work.”
Cllr David King, Leader of Colchester City Council and Vice-Chair of the Essex Leaders and Chief Executive’s Group, said: “It is important to be clear that nothing will change until the new unitary authorities go live in April 2028. Until then, local councils will continue to deliver vital services and support residents, particularly those who need us most.
“We have one of the largest and most complex local government systems in the country, so a safe, smooth and well managed transition is essential. We are committed to minimising disruption and ensuring that, on day one of the new councils, residents experience no difference in the services they receive.
“We will communicate openly and clearly as plans develop, keeping people informed at every stage as we move towards the new authorities.”
Elections for the new shadow unitary authorities in Greater Essex are scheduled for May 2027, with new authorities expected to become operational in April 2028.
The latest updates and information about local government reorganisation in Greater Essex is available on the council’s joint Greater Essex Hub
Friday 9 January 2026
- The Government consultation will close on Sunday 11 January.
- We anticipate that the Government will make an announcement on their decision sometime in March 2026.
Wednesday 19 November 2025
- The Government has now launched its consultation here: Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - Citizen Space It will be open until 11 January 2026.
- You can read more about all the Essex proposals here: https://www.essexlgrhub.org/proposals
- We encourage you to take part in the consultation when it opens and share this information with friends, family, and networks.
- Your voice matters in shaping the future of local government in Essex, with a final decision from Central Government expected in March 2026.
Friday 26 September 2025
Maldon District Council is backing a proposal for 5 new unitary councils. Different proposals for 3,4 and 5 councils are all to be considered by government as part of Local Government Reorganisation. Under the 5-council model, Maldon would form a unitary with Brentwood and Chelmsford Councils as a new Mid Essex Authority.
At a Council meeting held last night (25 Sept) Maldon District Councillors voted to support the 5-council option. They felt this option would provide the ability to deliver value to residents and vital local responsiveness.
You can read the proposals at essexlgrhub.org
Tuesday 2 September 2025
The Five Unitary Council proposal is now available to view on the essexlgrhub.org, and you will also see the other proposals for Essex added when they are finalised.
Thursday 14 August 2025
Local government in Greater Essex could be changing - and a new website has been launched to help residents, businesses and stakeholders stay informed and involved.
Leaders and Chief Executives from councils across Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock have come together to launch essexlgrhub.org, a central, impartial platform dedicated to providing clear, accessible information about the future of local government in Greater Essex.
Wednesday 25 June 2025 - FiveCouncil' public consultation proposal launched
Residents, businesses and local organisations are being asked to share their views on the future of councils in Essex.
A public consultation to give people a chance to have their say has been launched by a number of authorities to guide their proposed vision for new unitary councils across Greater Essex.
The group, which includes Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Maldon, Southend and Uttlesford, is developing a proposal for five new future councils. The Government has asked councils in the area to propose options to reduce the current number of local authorities in Essex and replace them with bigger unitary councils, which will deliver most local services to their residents.
Earlier this year, Essex councils sent an interim proposal to the Government, which indicated some councils had a preference for five new unitary councils, each based around the largest towns and cities in Essex. Some local authorities in the county are working on different proposals for how new councils should be configured, which are expected to propose fewer than five councils.
Councils are changing
Greater Essex currently comprises 15 councils serving nearly 1.9 million residents. Southend and Thurrock operate as unitary authorities, meaning they manage most local services independently. In contrast, the rest of Essex follows a two-tier system: district councils like Basildon, Castle Point and Chelmsford handle local services such as waste collection, street cleaning, and leisure facilities, while Essex County Council oversees broader services including highways, adult social care, and special educational needs
As part of the Government’s devolution agenda aimed at streamlining local governance, these 15 councils are set to be replaced within the next three years by a smaller number of new unitary authorities. These new bodies will consolidate responsibilities, delivering all local services except those managed by town and parish councils, which will remain unaffected.
Public consultation to gather views across Essex
This exercise offers people a valuable opportunity to share their views at an important stage, helping to shape the final ‘five council’ proposal over the summer. It will outline the creation of five new unitary councils, formed by neighbouring existing councils joining together to create larger authorities that retain a strong local identity and sense of place.
Once the survey has ended, the councils will use the feedback gathered to refine their bid before submitting a final proposal at the end of September. The Government will then consider all the submissions it receives, before deciding how councils should be structured in Essex. New councils are planned to be in place from April 2028.
Chair of the ‘five councils’ group, Southend-on-Sea City Council Leader Cllr Daniel Cowan, is urging people to share their views at a critical time for local services:
“Essex is a fantastic place, proud of its transparent and genuine spirit. We’re now facing the biggest change in local government in 50 years, and your voice matters more than ever. We can’t shape a proposal without first listening to what you have to say.
“Our vision is for five stronger, more resilient councils that still feel rooted in the communities they serve - places that feel like home. But we won’t make any final decisions without hearing directly from the people we represent.
“This consultation is your chance to tell us what matters most to you, your family, or your business - wherever you live in Essex. It only takes around ten minutes to complete the survey, but your input could help shape the future of local services for generations to come.”
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Chair of the five councils’ group
Councillor Richard Siddall, Leader of Maldon District Council, said: “By 2028, district councils will cease to exist in Essex. We need to make sure that the new, larger unitary councils engage with local communities, provide excellent services, and ensure that place identity is maintained.
Maldon is a beautiful coastal and rural district that needs investment in health and transport services. It’s important that residents take part in the Five Council survey to help government to decide how many unitary councils are needed to serve our communities.”
How to take part
People can have their say between 25 June 2025 and 20 July 2025 by visiting https://shorturl.at/hapld
The consultation page is being hosted by Southend-on-Sea City Council on behalf of the group of councils developing the proposal
Alternative formats are also available on request. You can ask for a paper version of the survey by calling 01702 215408 or by emailing consultations@southend.gov.uk.
Notes to Editors
A number of councils are working together as a group to prepare the proposal for 5 new unitary authorities for Greater Essex, these include:
- Basildon Borough Council
- Brentwood Borough Council
- Castle Point Borough Council
- Chelmsford City Council
- Colchester City Council
- Maldon District Council
- Southend-on-Sea City Council
- Uttlesford District Council
The ‘five councils’ proposal
The five new councils would be made up of the following neighbouring authorities, based around the largest towns and cities in Essex and existing, functional geography:
- Harlow Council, Epping Forest District Council, Uttlesford District Council
- Colchester City Council, Braintree District Council, Tendring District Council
- Chelmsford City Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Maldon District Council
- Basildon Borough Council, Thurrock Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Rochford District Council
Friday 2 May 2025 - Feedback from Government on the Interim Plan submitted 21 March
Read the feedback document
What is LGR?
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The Government have set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England. This means all 15 councils in Essex would be replaced with a number of unitary councils.
Read the latest FAQ from Essex County Council:
Local Government Association (LGA) Devolution Hub
Visit the LGA Devolution Hub to find further information and resources. This includes a list of regularly updated devolution and local government reorganisation FAQs.
What is the council doing now?
We have been working with the other Councils to submit an interim plan for local government reorganisation, and this was sent on 21 March. Read the interim plan.
During the process our focus remains on delivering essential services across the whole of the Maldon district.