Progress towards a new local government model for West Sussex

On 26 September, councils across West Sussex submitted a joint proposal to the Government on the best way to organise local government in the county.

Proposals came from close collaboration and detailed modelling which formed our response to central Government’s call for recommendations on how services can be delivered in the future.

The Government want to replace the current two-tier system (where county and district or borough councils share responsibilities) with a unitary model, where one council handles all local services.

The recommendation for our area

In West Sussex, all district and borough councils agree that the best option is to create two unitary authorities for the whole county. For our residents, the proposal would see a new council combining the footprints of Horsham District, Crawley Borough, and Mid Sussex District and give a single point of contact for all local services.

The proposal is based on feedback from over 9000 residents and stakeholders on three financially viable options. Your feedback showed strong support for this two-unitary model. This model offers better representation in regional decision-making than a single unitary for the county.

The Council also felt that this approach was the strongest for economic growth for our area and would put residents first, giving a more local focus on housing, social care and leisure and community services. While there are challenges in separating county-wide services, we are confident that the transition can be managed effectively. We are committed to maximising the opportunity to build a system designed around local needs for now and for the future.

Next steps

A formal Government-led public consultation on the proposed options for our area is expected to take place from November 2025 to January 2026, and residents are encouraged to take part. A final decision is due in Spring 2026, with changes likely to begin in April 2028.