Plans had been welcomed in July for providing ‘clarity’
Angela Rayner has announced that plans for local government reorganisation have been paused for review.
The secretary of state for housing, communities and local government told parliament that plans covering Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk had been withdrawn in light of legal advice.
Proposals for the other 14 areas, as well as Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and West Sussex, will also be paused while the review is carried out.
Reorganisation in Surrey will not be affected, with the two new unitary authorities – East and West Surrey – going live in April 2027.
The government confirmed that local elections in May 2027 would go ahead based on existing council boundaries.
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) had welcomed the “clarity” provided when the details of reorganisation were announced in July.
Responding to the announcement of the pause on Monday, Tom Arnold, policy manager for regional engagement and devolution at CIH, said it would “cause significant concern among staff in those local authorities affected by the decision”.
“The government confirmed its plans just a matter of weeks ago, before parliament’s summer recess, and officers have been working hard to meet tight deadlines to ensure the new councils are up and running,” he said.
“While we understand the government’s need to ensure that the decisions made are legally robust and align with its wider devolution agenda, the uncertainty this pause creates will add further pressure to already stretched local authorities and potentially delay important housing and planning decisions.
“We encourage the government to clarify as soon as possible whether reorganisation in the affected areas will be reviewed, cancelled or simply paused until a later date.”
Meanwhile, the Local Government Association, which represents councils, issued a statement reflecting the “majority view” of its political leadership, having been unable to reach consensus.
It said that councils across the UK would “hold different views” but that there was “no excuse for the government’s mishandling of this process”.
It said the announcement had “caused significant uncertainty, after councils have invested scarce public money and countless hours in the government’s LGR programme”.
The statement continued: “People’s jobs, lives and wider commitments have been affected. Staff, councillors and their families cannot be expected to put their lives on hold while ministers undertake a review which is a mess of their own making. Particularly at a time when local services remain under real pressure, this is no way to treat local government.”
The LGA urged ministers to set a clear timetable and ensure council did not “pick up the bill” for the delay.
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