You may remember, that back in the summer, Chichester District Council asked for your views on options for local government reorganisation – and, along with the other seven councils in West Sussex, we subsequently submitted proposals to the Government for them to consider. This was after the Government invited the West Sussex councils to work together to develop proposals for our area.
Alongside the joint case, which can be found at www.shapingwestsussex.org, each council shared its preferred option with the Government. Our council, together with all other district and borough councils in West Sussex, unanimously supported the two-unitary model—one authority for Chichester, Arun, Worthing, and Adur, and another for Crawley, Horsham, and Mid Sussex. West Sussex County Council backed a single-unitary option.
We are writing to let you know that the Government has now launched the formal consultation on the proposals to reorganise local government in Sussex at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-east-sussex-and-brighton-and-hove-and-west-sussex.
The consultation is open until Sunday 11 January 2026 at 23.59, and welcomes feedback from residents, businesses, and stakeholders on all proposals put forward by councils across the region. Your input is important and will help shape the Government’s final decision on the best way forward for Sussex.
As well as the proposals from the councils in West Sussex and East Sussex, the Government has also decided to include a proposal from Brighton & Hove City Council in the consultation, which affects West Sussex. Brighton & Hove’s proposal features a five-unitary model covering the whole of Sussex—this was developed without any input from councils in West Sussex. We have added information to our web pages at www.chichester.gov.uk/devolution to remind you of the process so far—and explain what the Government is now seeking your views on.
It’s important that as many people as possible have their say—so please encourage friends, family, and colleagues to get involved too.
If you haven’t signed up already, it is also worth subscribing to our monthly email newsletter at:www.chichester.gov.uk/newsalerts which keeps you in contact with all of the latest local news and events.
