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Surrey Devolution & What It Means For You

24th September 2026

 

Plans for a major shake-up of local government across England have faced a pause in several areas, following the Government’s decision to review the process after receiving new legal advice. Proposals to replace existing councils with larger unitary authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn, while plans covering a further 14 areas have been paused for review. These developments have created some uncertainty around the wider timetable for local government reorganisation, with the Government considering whether the process in these areas has been conducted appropriately.

Surrey, however, is in a different position. The county’s reorganisation has already progressed through the legislative process. The Government formally decided in 2025 that Surrey’s existing two-tier local government structure would be replaced by two unitary councils, and the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 was made in March this year. This means the planned reorganisation is now legally established, rather than being at the proposal stage.

From 1 April 2027, Surrey’s existing 12 councils will be replaced by two new Unitary Authorities: East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council. East Surrey will cover the areas currently served by Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge, while West Surrey will cover Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking. Each new authority will become responsible for both county-level and district/borough-level functions within its area, bringing services currently delivered across the two tiers under a single council.

The transition is already underway. Elections for the new councils took place in May 2026, with the elected members now forming the shadow authorities alongside the continuing existing councils. An implementation programme is progressing ahead of ‘vesting day’ on 1 April 2027, covering areas including governance, budgets, staffing, systems, and the transfer of services. The Government has also issued directions concerning certain financial decisions during the transition, reflecting the need to manage the assets and liabilities that will ultimately transfer to the new authorities.

For Surrey businesses, the changes will be significant. The creation of two unitary councils will affect how businesses engage with local government, including areas such as planning, economic development, infrastructure, waste, skills and other local services. While the immediate focus is on ensuring a smooth transition, businesses will also want to understand how the new councils develop their priorities and relationships with the local business community. Surrey Chambers will continue to follow the process and provide updates for members as further details emerge. If you need any support please feel free to contact us at info@surrey-chambers.co.uk