What is happening next?
Government has chosen a single unitary council to cover almost the whole of East Sussex. This closely follows our One East Sussex proposal.
The only parts of East Sussex not included are East Saltdean, Peacehaven and Telscombe which Ministers have decided should be transferred into an expanded Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC).
Elections to the new East Sussex unitary council will be held in May 2027. Elections to a new expanded BHCC will be held at the same time
Both councils will operate in shadow form until April 2028 when they will begin full operation. The new single council for East Sussex will replace the existing county council and five district/borough councils (Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden).
Timeline to 2028
- 26 September 2025: five of the six councils in East Sussex submitted a detailed proposal to Government for a single council, operating on the current footprint of East Sussex:
- December 2025 to January 2026: Government consultation on One East Sussex proposal and a proposal submitted by Brighton & Hove City Council to reorganise Sussex into five new unitary councils
- March 2026: On 25 March 2026 Government told us they want to consult on a variation of the One East Sussex proposal after the elections in May. Their variation would see Peacehaven, Telscombe, East Saltdean and Falmer parish transferred to Brighton and Hove to bolster its footprint.
- May 2026: Government consultation: details to come
- July 2026: Government announces plans for East Sussex unitary council (and expanded Brighton & Hove City Council).
- May 2027: Elections to shadow authority
- April 2028: New council starts work, replacing the current county and borough/district councils