West Sussex council reorganisation decision delayed until October

The Government has still not decided how West Sussex should be divided under local government reorganisation.

The news has been described as ‘astonishing’ and ‘an absolute farce’ by two of the county’s MPs.

Speaking in the House of Commons today (July 16), Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, said ‘further time is required to get the decisions right’.

A decision on how the county would be split was expected in the Spring in preparation for elections in 2027, and council officers have been left somewhat working in the dark as they prepare for the change.

In September 2025, the county, district and borough councils submitted their preferences for the change. The county council proposed one unitary authority to cover the whole of the county, while the district and borough councils proposed two – with Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing in one, and Crawley, Horsham, and Mid Sussex in the other.

But Mr Reed put forward a third option  – not popular with any of the councils – placing Chichester, Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex in one authority, serving a population of around 566,000, with Arun, Adur and Worthing in another, serving a population of around 349,000.

The main concern with his proposals has been the economic state of the coastal area compared to the rest of the county – and how removing Chichester from that group could have disastrous results.

A consultation about the proposals closed on Monday (July 15). Elections to the new shadow unitary authorities are expected to be held in May 2027, preparing for the new authorities to formally launch in April 2028.

Mr Reed said ‘vast amounts of information’ had been received following the consultation, adding: “I didn’t want to push ahead with a decision before we had considered all of the views that were shared with us. We will look to proceed and announce as soon as we can after the summer recess. The intention is that the timetable for elections will remain the same.”

Addressing the House, John Milne, MP for Horsham, said he found the postponement of any decision ‘astonishing’.

Mr Milne was less than pleased that council leaders only learned the news in a six-minute call earlier today, during which they were not allowed to ask questions.

He called on Mr Reed to meet with leaders before committing himself to ‘this disastrous decision’. Mr Reed, though, made no such promise, referring again to the amount of information generated by the consultation.

Jess Brown-Fuller, MP for Chichester, issued a statement which said: “The Government’s announcement today is an absolute farce. How the Government can expect elections for the new unitary authorities to take place next May while still not announcing their boundaries is utterly mad.

“Councils across West Sussex are going to be left treading water, unable to make long-term decisions about critical investment until they have certainty about what the future authorities will look like.

“I am still concerned that the Government’s proposed coastal authority, which will go bankrupt on day one, is still on the table as an option. October is too late.”

But Andrew Griffith MP for Arundel & South Downs, welcomed the postponement.

A vehement opposer of ‘breaking up West Sussex’, Mr Griffith said: “This whole proposal was costly and an unnecessary distraction and should now be shelved entirely.

“The Labour government and our Lib Dem-led councils have embarrassed themselves by trying to smash up tradition in their own political self-interest but now let’s hope that the whole thing is behind us.”

Cllr Jeremy Gardner, the leader of Adur District Council, said: “Although we understand that this additional delay may be disappointing to residents, businesses, staff and councillors in Adur, we are keen to ensure that we get the right decision for our communities.

Cllr Caroline Baxter, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “Despite the announcement, we'll continue working with neighbouring councils and the government to ensure the best possible outcome for Worthing, one that unlocks investment, supports local businesses and delivers strong and well-designed local services.”

Commenting on the government’s decision, Cllr Robert Eggleston, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said “The further delay to a decision on the future of local government in West Sussex is disappointing and it means uncertainty remains for local communities, staff, and councils. We recognise the importance of taking the time needed to reach the right decision and will continue to work constructively with partners as the process moves forward. However, and to be clear, the reason for the delay lays solely with the government and not the councils in West Sussex. 

“In the meantime, we will continue our preparations for local government reorganisation while remaining focused on delivering the services our residents rely on every day. Once a decision is announced, we will work with our partners to implement it effectively and with minimal disruption to residents and staff.” 

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