Brighton & Hove City Council has published its formal proposal for local government reorganisation in Sussex following extensive engagement with residents and local partners. The proposal can be found here: https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s210148/Appendix%201_Representative%20Councils%20for%20a%20Devolved%20Sussex_%20a%20five%20unitary%20proposal.pdf .
The proposal will be debated at Full Council on 24 September, with a final decision taken by Cabinet on 25 September, ahead of submission to Government on 26 September.
BHCC modelling forecasts that the proposed five-unitary model could unlock £52.4 million in annual net benefits, with phased realisation over the next decade including £14 million per annum by FY29/30. This presents a significant opportunity to strengthen public service delivery and financial resilience across the region.
Brighton & Hove supports a five-unitary structure, with each authority serving between 300,000 and 400,000 residents. This model aligns with Government criteria and offers:
• Resilience and scale for delivering adult and children’s services
• Functional boundaries that reflect real-world travel and economic patterns
• Fair partnership between councils of similar size
• Deliverability through phased transition and shared platforms
• Community recognition, preserving parish boundaries and local identities
Over 2,000 residents participated in the engagement process earlier this year, through online consultation and in-person events. Their feedback has directly shaped the proposal.
Once all Sussex proposals are submitted, the Government will assess them and decide which progress to statutory consultation. This will allow residents and stakeholders to have their say before any final decisions are made.