South West Essex
South West Essex | |
|---|---|
Proposed unitary authority area | |
 | |
 South West Essex shown within Essex | |
 Interactive map of South West Essex | |
| Coordinates: 51°33′04″N 0°27′36″E / 51.551°N 0.460°E | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | East |
| Ceremonial county | Essex |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | South West Essex Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 105.6 sq mi (273.4 km2) |
| Population (2024 estimate) | |
• Total | 374,621 |
| • Density | 3,549/sq mi (1,370/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
South West Essex was a proposed unitary authority area that was scheduled to be created in April 2028 in Essex, England. As part of an ongoing local government reorganisation, it would have been formed from the existing districts of Basildon and Thurrock. The first councillors to South West Essex Council would have been elected in May 2027. The largest settlement in the district would have been Basildon. Plans to create it were withdrawn in September 2026.
History
[edit]The idea of merging Basildon and Thurrock was considered in 2021.[1] In February 2025, Essex was accepted into the Devolution Priority Programme.[2] Tied to this, councils were invited to submit proposals for the reorganisation of local government districts by September 2025. The government held statutory consultations from November 2025 to January 2026 and made a decision in March 2026.[3] In South West Essex, it was decided to create a new unitary authority district by combining Basildon and Thurrock.[4][5]
In September 2026, the Essex proposals were withdrawn by the government in light of new government advice.[6]
Geography
[edit]The largest settlement in the district would have been the new town of Basildon. The Office for National Statistics mid-2023 population estimate of the district was 368,745.[7]
Parishes
[edit]Most of the proposed district, including Basildon and the whole of the Thurrock area, is unparished. The rest of the area is made of civil parishes:[8]
Governance
[edit]The local authority would have been South West Essex Council. The first councillors would have been elected in May 2027.[9][5] This election was cancelled in September 2026.[6]
References
[edit]- ↑ Hill, Jessica (17 February 2021). "New 'powerhouse' unitary in South Essex proposed". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time". GOV.UK. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock". GOV.UK. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ↑ O'Hanlon, Séamus (25 March 2026). "Essex split into five councils for Local Government Reorganisation". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- 1 2 Reed, Steve (25 March 2026). "Local Government Reorganisation Statement made on 25 March 2026". UK Parliament.
- 1 2 "Plans for major overhaul of councils halted". BBC News. 7 September 2026. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
- ↑ Weakley, Kirsty (25 March 2026). "Revealed: Average size of new unitaries in each area". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- ↑ "Parishes and Non Civil Parished Areas". Open Geography Portal. Office for National Statistics. December 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ↑ Dedman, Simon (25 March 2026). "Government backs five-council plan for Essex". BBC. Retrieved 25 March 2026.