Proposed unitary authorities 2026: Maps
Maps of the new unitary authorities proposed by the Government in 2026.
This page provides maps of the new unitary authorities proposed by the Government in March 2026. These are attached below.
The Government published proposals for Essex, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Norfolk and Suffolk on 25 March 2026. Letters to local authorities in those areas announcing the proposals can be found at a collection on the website of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The proposals were announced to Parliament in a written statement on the same day.
Information about which existing local authority areas will make up the new unitary authorities can be found below. Where existing local authorities are being split, the attached Excel spreadsheet indicates which parish council areas will be located in each new unitary authority.
Interactive map of the proposals Details of the proposals Hampshire / Isle of WightThe government has accepted a proposal for five unitary authorities:
- North Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor). Population: 402,000.
- Mid Hampshire Council (current local government areas of East Hampshire, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester, less 11 parishes from all 4 areas). Population: 466,000.
- South East Hampshire Council (current local government areas from East Hampshire, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, 3 parishes from East Hampshire and 1 parish from Winchester). Population: 566,000.
- South West Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Eastleigh, 4 parishes from New Forest, Southampton and 3 parishes from Test Valley). Population: 487,000.
- Isle of Wight Council will remain as a separate unitary authority.
The government has accepted a proposal for three unitary authorities:
- West Norfolk Council (current local government areas of Breckland, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, and 9 parishes from South Norfolk). Population: 310,000.
- Greater Norwich Council (current local government areas of Norwich, 19 parishes from Broadland, and 16 parishes from South Norfolk). Population: 290,000.
- East Norfolk Council (current local government areas of Broadland (less 19 parishes), Great Yarmouth, North Norfolk, and South Norfolk (less 25 parishes)). Population: 341,000.
The government has accepted a proposal for three unitary authorities:
- Western Suffolk Council (current local government areas of West Suffolk, 21 parishes from Mid Suffolk, and Babergh (less 31 parishes)). Population: 269,000.
- Central and Eastern Suffolk Council (current local government areas of Mid Suffolk (less 29 parishes), and East Suffolk (less 25 parishes). Population: 261,000.
- Ipswich and South Suffolk Council (current local government areas of Ipswich, 31 parishes from Babergh, 8 parishes from Mid Suffolk, and 25 parishes from East Suffolk). Population: 257,000.
The government has accepted a proposal for five unitary authorities:
- West Essex Council (current local government areas of Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford). Population: 331,000.
- North East Essex Council (current local government areas of Braintree, Colchester and Tendring). Population: 521,000.
- Mid Essex Council (current local government areas of Brentwood, Chelmsford and Maldon). Population: 337,000.
- South West Essex Council (current local government areas of Basildon and Thurrock). Population: 375,000.
- South East Essex Council (current local government areas of Castle Point, Rochford and Southend-on-Sea). Population: 366,000.
The Government's intention is that the new authorities will hold their first elections in May 2027, and take on their full powers in April 2028.
The Government has said that it will undertake a short consultation in May 2026 on a further proposal for new unitary authorities in East and West Sussex.
More background information and detail about the Government's reorganisation policy can be found in the Library briefing Local government reorganisation 2026.
Population estimatesPopulation estimates presented above are for mid-2024, based on matching output area population-weighted centroids to proposed new boundaries.
Downloadable mapsUse the following links to access high-resolution images of the proposed new unitary authority areas, with constituency boundaries overlaid: