The Government has announced it is delaying a decision on the future structure of local government in West Sussex, while confirming outcomes for four other areas across the country.
West Sussex County Council, alongside district and borough councils, submitted proposals in September 2025 setting out options for either a single unitary authority or two separate unitary councils to replace the current system.
However, ministers have now confirmed they will not meet the original decision timetable for Sussex. Instead, they intend to modify the proposals put forward by local authorities before reaching a final conclusion.
For West Sussex, the suggested changes are understood to centre on a revised version of the two-unitary model. This could involve moving Chichester District from one proposed authority to another, altering the balance of the original submission.
While no formal decision has been made, the move is widely seen as an indication that the option of a single county-wide unitary council is no longer being considered.
The Government says the revised proposals will be subject to a “short, technical” consultation, expected to take place after local elections on 7 May 2026.
A final decision is now anticipated in the summer. Despite the delay, the overall timetable remains largely unchanged, with elections to any new councils still expected in May 2027. The new authorities would then take on full responsibility for services from May 2028.
Cllr Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “We are disappointed that, despite the hard work of councils in West Sussex to develop two implementable proposals for local government reorganisation in the county, the government has taken six months to decide to reject both of the sustainable options put forward,
“Our preference was for one unitary council which we believe provided the most financially stable model, especially considering the cost and confusion that could occur from splitting adult and children’s services across two local authorities, and which our shared business case demonstrated best met the government’s stated criteria.
“With other councils in West Sussex, we will need to look closely at the Government’s proposals as we consider next steps, but we share the general frustration that after six months of deliberation, the government have been unable to reach a definitive conclusion, and they have decided to reject the unanimous conclusions of the councils in West Sussex about the best options for the local area.”
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