Government publishes modified proposals for local government reorganisation in Sussex

The government has launched fresh consultations on modified proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) across Sussex, reopening debate over the future structure of councils in both West Sussex and East Sussex, including Brighton & Hove. The consultations, published this week by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, will run until 15 June 2026.

In West Sussex, ministers are seeking views on revisions to the previously submitted “two unitary” proposal backed by the district and borough councils. The modification would alter proposed boundaries, including moving Chichester into a unitary authority alongside Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex, while Adur, Arun and Worthing would form a separate coastal authority.

The consultation follows months of uncertainty after the government delayed a final decision on Sussex reorganisation in March while progressing restructuring plans elsewhere in England.

In East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, the government is consulting on changes to the proposed two-unitary model that could see additional wards and a parish transferred from Lewes district into an expanded Brighton & Hove authority area. Ministers said the changes are intended to ensure new councils are “equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services, and lead and empower their communities.”

The latest consultations build on an earlier statutory consultation carried out between November 2025 and January 2026, which generated thousands of responses from councils, residents and stakeholders across Sussex. 

For licensing professionals and council officers monitoring the implications of LGR and devolution, the Institute of Licensing’s LGR & Devolution Hub has been set up and key sector resource, providing updates, analysis and guidance on reorganisation proposals across England.

The IoL has also encouraged members to engage with the issue through its dedicated LGR and Devolution Special Interest Group and the IoL Members Forum discussion area, where practitioners are sharing intelligence and discussing the potential operational impact on licensing authorities.

Full consultation documents are available via the government’s dedicated pages for West Sussex LGR proposals and East Sussex and Brighton & Hove LGR proposals.