Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock

Closes 11 Jan 2026

Contact

Local Government Reorganisation

LGRconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk

Overview

This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received following the Secretary of State’s invitation to councils in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock to submit proposals for unitary local government for their areas. You can find full details of the consultation, including a privacy statement, at: Local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock - GOV.UK

The 4 proposals in this consultation were made by the following councils on 26 September 2025:

1. Southend-on-Sea City Council, Chelmsford City Council, Basildon Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Colchester City Council, Harlow District Council, Maldon District Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council proposed 5 unitary councils across the whole of the area of Essex, Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, comprising the current district areas of:

  • West: Uttlesford, Harlow, Epping Forest​​
  • North East: Braintree, Colchester, Tendring​​
  • Mid: Brentwood, Chelmsford, Maldon​​
  • South West: Thurrock, Basildon​​
  • South East: Castle Point, Southend, Rochford

2. Essex County Council, Braintree District Council and Epping Forest District Council proposed 3 unitary councils across the whole of the area of Essex, Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, comprising the current district areas of:

  • North: Braintree, Colchester, Tendring, Uttlesford​​
  • Mid: Harlow, Epping Forest, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Maldon​
  • South: Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend

3. Rochford District Council proposed 4 unitary councils across the whole of the area of Essex, Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, comprising the current district areas of:

  • North: Braintree, Colchester, Tendring​​
  • West: Epping Forest, Harlow, Uttlesford​​
  • Central: Brentwood, Chelmsford, Maldon, Rochford​​
  • South: Basildon, Castle Point, Southend, Thurrock

4. Thurrock Council proposed 4 unitary councils across the whole of the area of Essex, Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea, comprising the current district areas of:

  • West: Harlow, Epping Forest, Brentwood, Thurrock​​
  • North: Uttlesford, Braintree, Chelmsford​​
  • East: Maldon, Colchester, Tendring​​
  • South: Basildon, Castle Point, Southend, Rochford

You can find all 4 proposals listed above at: Proposals | Essex Local Government Reorganisation Hub

This consultation asks questions about each proposal to help inform the assessment of the proposals. 

Share your views