About One East Sussex

National government has begun reorganising local government. Its aim is for people to be served by just one local council – known as a unitary authority or unitary council.

In East Sussex this means moving away from the current two-tier model of county council (East Sussex County Council) and borough or district councils (Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden).

Government believes bringing together council services into one organisation can:

  • deliver efficiency savings and create opportunities for improving public services
  • enhance accountability by making it easier for residents to understand who is responsible for which public services and local decisions
  • smooth the process of devolution to strategic authorities, and make it simpler for the government to transfer functions to local leaders.

Alongside local government reorganisation, national government have also introduced a strategic authority for the whole of Sussex, including an elected mayor. The Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA) will have funding and powers to plan and decide long-term issues which affect the whole area.

A new mayor for the whole of Sussex will be elected in May 2028.

What is happening next?

We continue to press Government to agree a single unitary authority on the current geography of East Sussex. This option has gained the most support from residents. 

Government has proposed a variation of the One East Sussex proposal – that would see Peacehaven, Telscombe, East Saltdean and Falmer parish transferred to Brighton and Hove to bolster its footprint.

Government plan to hold a consultation on their revised proposal, it will run from 12 May to 8 June – they will use the responses to this consultation to guide their final decision before the summer.

After a final option is chosen, we can expect elections in 2027 with a new unitary council or councils operating from 2028.

Timeline

  • 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 to make final decision on the future of East Sussex
  • May 2027: Elections to preparing authority
  • May 2028: New council starts work, replacing the current county and borough/district councils

Transition Board
Results of public consultations

Your services and representation

The new structure of local government for Sussex

OES Graphic
  1. Top level – National government
    National government is responsible for delivery and coordination of national level service.

  2. Next level – Sussex Mayoral Combined County Authority Consists of 1 mayor, 6 council representatives (2 each from constituent council, currently East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council) and 6 non-constituent members (such as district authority, local NHS Trust). The Mayoral Combined County Authority would receive greater local control over areas such as transport, adult education and skills, and housing to enable improvements in local connectivity, educational outcomes, economic development, driving economic growth and improved social wellbeing.

  3. Unitary authorities – to be created from 15 existing county, city, district and borough councils, including the six councils in East Sussex.

  4. Local councils – for towns and parishes

Regions will speak to national government through the Council of the Nations and Regions plus the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority.

One East Sussex - the business case

One East Sussex is a detailed proposal for a single council for the county, to serve its 555,000 residents and its businesses from 2028.

The evidence-based business case was developed over several months following the government’s decision to replace the present two-tier structure of county council and borough/district councils. It was worked up by all six existing councils in East Sussex and draws on detailed evidence, analysis and the views of local people.

One East Sussex shows that a single unitary council would be simpler for residents, would save money, and would avoid the extra complexity of splitting up existing services.

It would also meet the government’s guidelines for new unitary councils and would preserve the partnerships between councils, NHS, emergency services and government so that we could continue to develop services with our communities.

The proposal was submitted to government on 26 September 2025.

On 25 March 2026 Government announced they are not ready to make a decision about the future shape of Local Government in East Sussex, but will instead 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.

One East Sussex - read the full business case

Appendix

Annexes

Public consultations and engagement

On 25 March 2026, government announced that it is not ready to make a decision about the future shape of Local Government in East Sussex, but will instead consult on a variation of the One East Sussex proposal which was submitted in September 2025.

The consultation launched on 12 May 2026 and closes at 11.59pm on 15 June 2026. You can have your say on the government's website:

Respond to the government's proposal