03.11.2026
The Government has confirmed that its programme of local government reorganisation will continue, but its previous decision on the future structure of local government in Kent and Medway has now been formally withdrawn. With a further decision expected in early 2027, what does the latest announcement mean for planning, development and the future of local government across the county?
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In July we reported on the Government’s decision to reorganise local government across Kent and Medway, replacing the existing county, district and borough council structure with four new unitary authorities.
That position subsequently became less certain when the Government paused elements of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme in September while it undertook a further review.
There has now been another significant development.
On 29 October, the Government confirmed that its review had concluded that the basis of the wider LGR programme remains robust. However, the position varies considerably between different parts of England.
For Kent and Medway, importantly, the Government has formally withdrawn the decision announced in July 2026. Kent and Medway is one of nine areas where earlier decisions have now been withdrawn, with Ministers indicating that further time is required to consider the way forward. No new decision has yet been made for the area.
This means the four-unitary structure previously selected by the Government is no longer the confirmed outcome.
That is a significant change. In July, the Government had selected a model under which the existing councils across Kent and Medway would ultimately be replaced by four new unitary authorities, covering north, west, mid and east Kent. Ministers decide future shape of Kent and Medway's councils.
The Government has not, however, abandoned reorganisation in Kent and Medway. Kent County Council has confirmed that Ministers will now test the assumptions contained within the business cases submitted by Kent and Medway's 14 councils before deciding how many unitary authorities there should be and what geographical areas they should cover. A further Government update is expected in early 2027.
For the time being, the existing local government structure remains in place.
However, the latest announcement creates a different form of uncertainty. While there is now greater clarity that the Government intends the LGR programme to continue, the eventual geography and number of unitary authorities across Kent and Medway remains unresolved.
This matters because local government boundaries are about considerably more than administrative arrangements.
The eventual structure will influence how a wide range of services and strategic functions are organised, including planning, housing and infrastructure. It could also have significant implications for the preparation of future development plans and the way strategic planning issues are addressed across different parts of Kent and Medway.
There will therefore be considerable interest across the development sector in both the Government's eventual decision and the transitional arrangements that follow.
From a planning perspective, local government reorganisation has the potential to create both opportunities and short-term challenges.
Moving from the present two-tier system to unitary government would ultimately bring functions currently divided between county and district authorities within new organisations. Depending on the final arrangements, that could offer opportunities for closer coordination between planning, housing, highways, education and infrastructure provision.
New unitary authorities will also need to consider their future plan-making arrangements. This will be particularly important in Kent, where establishing a coherent approach to housing growth, infrastructure and strategic development across newly created administrative areas will be a substantial undertaking.
At the same time, any major organisational transition brings practical challenges. Planning authorities will need to continue determining applications and advancing plan-making while preparing for structural change. Maintaining sufficient planning resources, retaining experienced officers and providing continuity for applicants and communities will therefore be important throughout the transition.
For developers and landowners promoting schemes in Kent and Medway, the practical message for now is that the planning system continues to operate under the existing local authority arrangements. There is no immediate change to which authority determines a planning application or the development plan against which proposals are assessed.
Nevertheless, those bringing forward longer-term development opportunities will need to keep the emerging structure under review.
Local government reorganisation is also increasingly intertwined with the wider devolution agenda.
Medway Council has confirmed that Kent and Medway will be included in the Government's devolution programme, with plans to establish a Strategic Authority for the area.
The Government's Budget announcement on 28 October confirmed that the intention is to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority, although this will depend on whether the eventual outcome of local government reorganisation is compatible with a mayoral model. If it is not, the alternative would be a Foundation Strategic Authority.
Medway Council has indicated that securing a full Mayoral Strategic Authority remains its longer-term ambition, with implementation dependent upon the outcome of the LGR process.
This potentially adds another important layer to the future planning landscape.
Alongside new unitary authorities responsible for local planning functions, a strategic authority could play an increasingly important role in addressing matters which extend beyond individual council boundaries, including strategic growth, infrastructure and investment.
For the development industry, understanding how these different tiers of governance ultimately fit together will therefore become increasingly important.
The immediate message is perhaps one of continued change rather than resolution.
The Government remains committed to local government reorganisation, but the July decision for Kent and Medway has been withdrawn and the precise form of the new structure is once again under consideration. A further update on the Kent and Medway position is expected in early 2027.
The Government has also clarified the wider implementation timetable. Local elections in May 2027 will proceed on existing council boundaries, followed by elections to shadow authorities in May 2028. The new unitary councils are then expected to become operational in April 2029.
This means that, although the eventual structure of local government in Kent and Medway remains uncertain, there is now greater clarity around the anticipated transition period.
At DHA, we will continue to monitor the Government’s review and what emerging local government arrangements could mean for planning and development across Kent and Medway. If you are promoting land or development through the planning process and would like to discuss the potential implications for your site or project, please contact our Planning team.
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