Surrey 2026 order creates two unitary councils by 2027

If you live, study or teach in Surrey, here’s the key update: on 10 March 2026 the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness confirmed she had signed the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 and that it came into force the same day. This is the legal instrument that starts the move to new councils. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk) The plan now is clear. Voters will choose councillors for East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council in May 2026. Those new councils will then assume full powers on 1 April 2027. (hansard.parliament.uk)

So, what is a Structural Changes Order? In plain terms, it’s secondary legislation made under the 2007 Act that abolishes existing councils, creates the new ones, sets the first elections, and puts transition arrangements in place so services keep running. The government’s own explainer also sets out the typical steps and timelines used across England. (gov.uk)

What exactly changes in Surrey? On 1 April 2027 the current county council and all eleven district and borough councils will be abolished. Their responsibilities transfer to two single-tier bodies called East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council, which will deliver all local government services for their areas. (hansard.parliament.uk)

Here’s the timetable you can sensibly plan around. The Order is already in force as of 10 March 2026. Existing councils must create formal Joint Committees within days to prepare the ground, and an officer Implementation Team will lead the day‑to‑day work. After the May 2026 elections, ‘shadow’ councils take over transition decisions until go‑live on 1 April 2027. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

What this means for you now is continuity. Until 31 March 2027, you still deal with your current council for bins, planning, housing, libraries, adult social care and everything else. Behind the scenes, councils are required to cooperate, share information and organise the transfer of people, contracts, property and services so day one of the new councils is safe and legal. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

From April 2027, your contact point becomes either East Surrey Council or West Surrey Council for everything local. That ‘one‑stop’ model brings today’s county‑level services (like roads, children’s services and public health) together with district‑level services (like housing, planning and waste collection) under a single authority. The law behind the change is explicit that functions move to the two new councils. (hansard.parliament.uk)

Democracy matters in the transition year. In May 2026 you’ll elect councillors to the new shadow authorities: 36 two‑member wards in East Surrey (72 councillors) and 45 two‑member wards in West Surrey (90 councillors). The next full elections will be in 2031 and then every four years, with the Boundary Commission expected to review wards before 2031. (hansard.parliament.uk)

Who is steering the practical work? The letter confirms Joint Committees prepare only the essentials-like an implementation plan, interim governance proposals and role profiles for key statutory officers-while not pre‑empting choices for the new councils. The Chief Executive of Surrey County Council leads the cross‑council Implementation Team during this period. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

A quick ‘what it means’ on money. The transition plan must cover council tax harmonisation and how budgets will be set so the new councils are ready on day one. In practice, that means the shadow councils in 2026–27 will take the key financial decisions, while your current bill and local charges continue as normal this year. (gov.uk)

You may also hear about Woking’s debt and how it intersects with reorganisation. Ministers told Parliament they intend to provide £500m of debt repayment support for Woking and temporary financial support for the new West Surrey authority while legacy issues are resolved-separate to, but relevant for, how stable the new system feels from the start. (hansard.parliament.uk)

Some county‑wide functions will still need to operate across the whole of Surrey. Ministers said they are working towards a ‘foundation strategic authority’ so things like transport and adult skills continue at the right geographic scale, and they intend fire and rescue governance to remain on the Surrey footprint. That sits alongside, not instead of, the two new councils. (hansard.parliament.uk)

One last civic literacy note. Parish and town councils-where they exist-are unaffected and will continue as the most local tier. For everything else, keep an eye out for voter information this spring, then expect more practical updates from shadow councils through 2026 as websites, customer services and signage are prepared for the April 2027 switch. (hansard.parliament.uk)