West Surrey
West Surrey | |
|---|---|
Future unitary authority area | |
 | |
 West Surrey shown within Surrey | |
 Interactive map of West Surrey | |
| Coordinates: 51°14′46″N 0°33′07″W / 51.246°N 0.552°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | South East |
| Ceremonial county | Surrey |
| Incorporated | 1 April 2027 |
| Administrative HQ | Guildford[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | West Surrey Council |
| Population (2024 estimate) | |
• Total | 685,006 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| GSS code | E06000068 |
West Surrey is a unitary authority area that will be created on 1 April 2027. It covers the western portion of the ceremonial county of Surrey, including the county town of Guildford. It will replace six districts. In March 2026, secondary legislation was made confirming the new unitary authority area as part of ongoing local government reform. The local authority will be West Surrey Council. On 30 July 2026, the shadow West Surrey Council passed a motion to adopt the name West Surrey and South Middlesex for the area, due to Spelthorne's position in the historic county of Middlesex.[2][3] The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has to approve the change of name before it is adopted officially.[4]
Name
[edit]Secondary legislation was made on 9 March 2026 for the council to come into operation on 1 April 2027 with the name "West Surrey".[5][6] Due to the Spelthorne area of the new authority having been part of the historic county of Middlesex, campaigner Russell Grant called for the authority to instead have the name "West Surrey and South Middlesex".[7] On 17 March 2026, Surrey County Council voted to support using the longer name.[8]
Power to rename the unitary authority under the Local Government Act 1972 is held by the newly-elected West Surrey Council that was first elected in May 2026.[8] The proposal to rename the authority was discussed at West Surrey Council's meeting on 30 July 2026,[9][2] and passed with 58 votes in favour, 15 votes against, and 9 abstentions.[10][11]
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has to approve any change of legal name occurring before the council comes into place.[4][12] Once a council is established, it has the power to change its legal name with a vote of 2/3 of councillors; councils are also able to use a name other than their legal name for branding.[13]
Formation
[edit]Since local government reorganisation in 1974, the area of West Surrey has been divided into the six districts (from north to south) of Spelthorne, Runnymede, Surrey Heath, Woking, Guildford and Waverley.
Following public consultation, creation of West Surrey and West Surrey Council in April 2027 was announced by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in October 2025. He announced that Surrey County Council and its eleven district councils would be abolished and replaced with two unitary authorities to better the financial sustainability of Surrey's local authorities and to improve public service delivery.[14]
In the lowest tier of local government, a lack of this, so unparished areas cover most of the northern half of the area, as well as Guildford town. Guildford's civil organisations are considering the creation of a civil parish for Guildford which would give it a Town Council in line with many towns with a strong tourism sector or identity.[15]
Governance
[edit]The governing body for West Surrey will be West Surrey Council, which is due to be established on 1 April 2027.[16] The first councillors were elected in the 2026 West Surrey Council election.[16][17]
Geography
[edit]West Surrey is the western portion of Surrey, a historic county in southeastern England. Natural England classifies England into distinct National Character Areas, each defined by landscape, biodiversity and cultural attributes. The southeasternmost portion of West Surrey lies within the Low Weald (NCA 121), transitioning northward to Weald Grassland (NCA 120), followed by a narrow band of the North Downs (NCA 119). Much but not all of these areas falls within the Surrey Hills National Landscape (or AONB).[18] North of the Downs is the Thames Basin, including the Thames Basin Lowlands (NCA 114) around Guildford and the Thames Basin Heaths (NCA 129) further north. Finally, about a dozen settlements, the northernmost, including Staines and Chertsey, are within the Thames Valley (NCA 115).[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/homepage/28/shadow-authorities
- 1 2 Caulfield, Chris (30 July 2026). "Council seeks name change before launch". BBC News.
- ↑ Caulfield, Chris (30 July 2026). "Political row erupts over call to add South Middlesex to West Surrey council name". Woking News and Mail.
- 1 2 "Middlesex set for official return in major council overhaul". Hounslow Herald. 7 April 2026.
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation: Policy and programme updates". gov.uk. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ Panons, Jacob (4 March 2026). "Calls for council name to include 'South Middlesex'". BBC News.
- 1 2 Dalton, Emily (18 March 2026). "Could the Middlesex name make a comeback in Surrey's new councils?". Haslemere Herald.
- ↑ "Agenda West Surrey Shadow Authority - Thursday, 30th July, 2026 7.00 pm". guildford.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "West Surrey Shadow Authority". Guildford Borough. 30 July 2026.
- ↑ Spelthorne Lib Dems. "The West Surrey Unitary Authority has this evening passed a motion requiring the leader to write to the Secretary of State to rename the council to "West Surrey and South Middlesex" by a 2/3rds majority". Bluesky.
- ↑ Rogers, Ellie (31 March 2026). "Naming of West Surrey". Surrey LGR Hub. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Andrews, Beatrice (28 July 2026). "Dear Chief Executives," (PDF). gov.uk.
- ↑ Caulfield, Chris (28 October 2025). "Surrey to be split in two in council reorganisation". BBC News. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ "Community Governance Review for the unparished urban area of Guildford - Stage 2". Guildford Borough Council.
- 1 2 "Surrey residents to benefit from improved public services". gov.uk. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ Ballinger, Chris; Bickle, Joseph; Caulfield, Chris; Shipp, Victoria; Williamson, Lucy (8 May 2026). "Surrey local elections 2026 results in full as party gets overall control". Surrey Live.
- ↑ "Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB) Variation Project Second Consultation - Defra - Citizen Space". consult.defra.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
- ↑ "Maps of Surrey showing different geology and character aspects" (PDF). Surrey County Council. Retrieved 1 November 2024.