Advice for SACREs about Local Government Reorganisation

The government announced in February 2026 that it will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas and for those unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality services for their residents.  This has potential to significantly affect 42 SACREs.

NASACRE have put together some advice for SACREs and we would like to draw your attention to it. This advice can be found here.

The RE Policy Unit, working with NASACRE, have put together this advice for LAs, which the Local Government Association is publishing to its members.

The Government’s announcement on 7 September 2026 represents a significant change in direction. Ministers have now paused the LGR programme, withdrawn decisions in several areas, and instructed councils to cease implementation work while a full review takes place. Updated legal advice has prompted the Government to reassess whether the current programme is sufficiently robust, lawful, and aligned with wider ambitions for devolution and “rewiring the state.”

For the implications of this, please see our news story from October 2026 Implications of the Government’s September Announcement on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) – NASACRE