New local government geographies confirmed in Devolution Priority Programme

CIH has today (25 March) welcomed confirmation of new local government geographies in areas that are part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).

The announcement will see new unitary councils set up in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, replacing the county and district councils in these areas. This follows the government’s announcement to end the two-tier local authority system in England in its 2024 Devolution White Paper. No decision has been made for Sussex due to concerns about all four proposals but Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has assured parliament that he is still fully committed to delivering reorganisation in these areas to the same timetable as the others. 

Elections for the new unitary authorities will be held in May 2027, with mayoral elections to be held in May 2028.

Commenting on the announcement, Tom Arnold, policy manager for regional engagement and devolution at CIH, said: “Housing professionals in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk will welcome the clarity that today’s announcement on the new local authority geographies provides.

“Local government reorganisation has significant implications for housing, with work now required to ensure local authority owned homes are transferred to the new councils as smoothly as possible.

“We encourage government to provide as much guidance as possible for local authorities going through this process, and to learn from the experiences of areas that have already undergone unitarisation over recent years.

“The government is rightly pushing to build more new homes and has made several positive changes to the planning system to support this objective. Local authorities undergoing reorganisation will need support to ensure planning, regeneration and housing delivery activity can continue at pace."

The Chartered Institute of Housing is supporting members affected by local government reorganisation and devolution, with a member briefing on LGR and housing to be published in the coming weeks.