Two unitary councils confirmed for Surrey by 2027
Ministers have confirmed Surrey will move to two single‑tier “unitary” councils, replacing the current county and 11 district/borough councils. On 28 October 2025, the Ministry wrote to Surrey’s chief executives about the secondary legislation that will make this happen, following the Secretary of State’s decision. Parliament must still approve the changes. We’ll walk you through what this means, who sits where, and the key dates.
First, a quick primer. Right now Surrey has a two‑tier set‑up: the county council runs things like social care, education and main roads, while districts and boroughs handle local planning, waste and housing services. A unitary council brings those responsibilities into one organisation for each area, so you deal with a single council for most local services.
Surrey will become two unitary areas. East Surrey will cover Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge. West Surrey will cover Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking. These groupings are set out in the government’s announcement and will shape how services are delivered locally from 2027.
What changes for you now? Day‑to‑day services stay with your current council until 1 April 2027, the planned “vesting day” when the new councils legally take over. Before then, two “shadow” councils will be elected to get ready-agreeing budgets, setting up leadership, and preparing service plans-so that bins are collected, schools admissions run, and care continues without interruption.
How representation will work. All‑out elections to the new councils are scheduled for May 2026. For that first election, each ward will mirror the county council’s electoral divisions created by The Surrey (Electoral Changes) Order 2024, but with two councillors per ward. Councillors will serve a five‑year first term to 2031; after that, it’s the usual four‑year cycle. A boundary review is expected before the 2031 election to fine‑tune warding.
Who is steering the handover. Each side of Surrey will set up a Joint Committee bringing together the county and the districts/boroughs on a 50:50 basis. An Implementation Team will include officers from all councils, led by Surrey County Council’s Chief Executive, with deputies from a district/borough in each new unitary area. A sector adviser, John Metcalfe, will support as an independent “critical friend”.
The governance model is fixed. The Structural Changes Order will require both new councils to adopt a Leader and Cabinet system, appoint statutory officers such as the Head of Paid Service and Chief Finance Officer, and adopt members’ codes of conduct and allowances schemes in the shadow year so they are ready to run services from day one.
Spending controls during transition. Ministers are minded to issue a Section 24 direction that would require the existing councils to seek consent from the new councils for certain contracts and asset disposals-an accountability step designed to protect residents and the future councils’ finances. They indicate an effective date of 30 June (to follow May 2026 elections) and propose exempting Spelthorne and Woking because Commissioners already oversee key decisions there. Councils have been invited to comment by 21 November.
Why two, not three? A statutory consultation received 5,617 responses. Many residents preferred a three‑unitary model, but ministers concluded the two‑unitary option better meets their criteria-especially financial sustainability in the Surrey context-so they are proceeding on that basis, subject to Parliament. This is a useful media‑literacy moment: government decisions can diverge from the most popular consultation view when judged against set criteria.
Devolution next. During the shadow year, the new councils can prepare or consent to a devolution proposal to create a county‑wide Strategic Authority for functions that work best at a larger scale, such as transport and adult skills. The government also says fire and rescue governance will continue on a county footprint. We’ll keep an eye on what powers are proposed and how local consent is secured.
Money matters you’ll hear about. Ministers have made an in‑principle commitment to repay £500 million of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026–27, subject to further checks, progress selling assets, and the Local Government Finance Settlement. This is described as a first tranche, with any further support to be tested for value for money for local and national taxpayers.
Key dates to mark. Councils are reviewing the draft Structural Changes Order now, with factual comments requested by 7 November 2025. Ministers plan to lay the order in early January for scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, before debates in each House. Elections are planned for May 2026; the new councils take over on 1 April 2027. If you live, work or study in Surrey, this is your timeline.