Devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)

About devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)

Sussex will be one of the first areas in England to elect a new mayor and secure greater decision-making powers as part of the government's devolution priority programme agreed for a number of different areas of the country.

In December 2024, the government published the English Devolution White Paper. This sets out plans to move power out of Westminster and back to local communities, allowing for tailored solutions that address specific regional needs, such as on transport, housing, education and economic development.

The government has now agreed to move forward with a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) and confirmed the first mayoral election will take place in May 2028.

As part of the devolution programme, local government will be reorganised by replacing two-tier systems (county and district councils) with single-tier unitary authorities.

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What are the next steps?

All West Sussex county, borough and district councils have been working together to develop a business case for local government reorganisation (LGR) that has now been submitted to the government.

The business case was informed by public feedback from the Shaping West Sussex survey which engaged residents, stakeholders, members and staff on three unitary model options that were identified as viable.

It presents a shared evidence base for all councils but does not recommend a single preferred option. It is for individual councils to consider the full range of evidence and analysis presented in the business case and determine their own stated preference for submission to the secretary of state.

We have included a supplementary statement that explains the recommendation for a two-unitary model that combines the Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing footprints.

To read the business case, see:

Following the submission of the business case, the government launched a public consultation on local government reorganisation (LGR) for every area of Sussex.

The consultation closed on Sunday 11th January 2026:

A final decision from the government is anticipated in Spring 2026. New unitary authorities in Sussex are set to go live in 2028.

To find out more, see:

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Local government elections in 2026

In December 2025, Alison McGovern, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, wrote to all local authorities in England that are currently involved in consultations on reducing the number of councils across the country to improve services and increase efficiency.

The minister invited the leaders of those councils to set out their views on the potential postponement of local elections in their areas, and if they believed it would free up time to progress with LGR effectively.

On 15th January 2026, Councillor Jeremy Gardner, the leader of Adur District Council, and Councillor Sophie Cox, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, wrote separately to the minister in response. In their letters, both said that they believed that postponing local elections in 2026 would free up capacity to deliver LGR. You can read those letters here:

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Thriving Together

At Adur & Worthing Councils, we want to go further. This isn't just about councils getting more powers - it's about ensuring that our communities and partners have a real say in shaping the future of the places we live, work or study.

Over the past year, our Thriving Together programme has brought hundreds of people together to share ideas, develop priorities, and influence how we work across Adur and Worthing.

The process produced a People's Vision with seven aims and 21 actions covering priorities that include keeping decisions local, investing in community and culture, creating better places, and focusing on young people.

Thriving Together has already helped shape big changes - from the LGR submission in September 2025 to the creation of our new corporate strategy, called Fair, Green & Local.

Read a full report on the Thriving Together programme here:

To find out more and sign up for upcoming Thriving Together events, visit:

How you can get involved - for details see:

To find out more, see:

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Press releases:

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Page last updated: 15 January 2026

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