Law360: The government's plans to consolidate public sector pension schemes could set off a chain of unintended consequences that could jeopardise up to £400bn in assets, fund managers warned on 16 January 2025.

Local Government analysis: This case concerns the way the court dealt with an array of challenges from a local resident to the setting up of parking charges on a council car park. Produced in partnership with Julian Hunt of The Chambers of Julian Hunt.

Local Government analysis: The UK government is progressing a nationwide programme of local government reorganisation (LGR), aimed at replacing two-tier systems with unitary authorities and aligning local structural reform with broader devolution objectives. This analysis provides details of key legislation, resources and reference points on LGR, along with the latest legal updates, plus expert market insights from Amardeep Gill, partner at Trowers & Hamlins, Laura Hughes, partner at Browne Jacobson, Claire Ward, partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors and Philip McCourt, legal director at Bevan Brittan.

This Practice Note provides a glossary of key terms essential to the understanding of local government reorganisation (LGR). For further information on LGR, see Practice Note: Local government reorganisation (LGR)—quick guide. Local government reorganisation (LGR)—the process by which the structure, boundaries and functions of local authorities are changed; most commonly (in current policy terms) to move from a two-tier structure (county and district councils) to a unitary local government (a ‘single tier’ authority for an area). Structural changes order—a piece of secondary legislation enacted under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (LGPIHA 2007) which implements LGR in a specified area, establishes the new structural arrangements and provides for the abolition of predecessor councils and transitional governance. Examples include the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, SI 2026/264. Section 24 direction—a direction made under LGPIHA 2007 requiring relevant authorities to obtain consent from a specified person before they can: • dispose of land if the consideration for the disposal exceeds £100,000 • enter into a capital contract where the authority

For a record of all LGR related legislation, guidance, consultations and further developments of interest, see Practice Note: Local government reorganisation (LGR)—tracker. For further LGR content, see News Analysis: Local government reorganisation (LGR) explained, Local government reorganisation (LGR)—overview, Practice Note: Local government reorganisation (LGR)—quick guide and Clause: Local government reorganisation (LGR) clause—for public sector contracts. Core policy and official guidance Resource Summary of resource English Devolution White Paper—GOV.UK Government policy paper on its devolution and LGR proposals for England. MHCLG—Summary of the local government reorganisation process Government summary of the current LGR process. MHCLG—Local government reorganisation: Policy and programme updates Ongoing LGR policy and programme updates from government, including a timeline of LGR-related events as well as relevant governmental publications, correspondence and ministerial statements. MHCLG—Local government reorganisation: implementation guidance Government guidance outlining how LGR will be implemented by implementation bodies and predecessor councils during the transition period. MHCLG—Local government reorganisation: Considerations for partnership working in social care for new unitary authorities Government correspondence outlining key considerations for new unitary authorities

STOP PRESS: On 7 September 2026, the government announced a review of the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme, following legal advice. The March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been withdrawn. The July 2026 decisions for 14 other areas, along with decisions for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex (which remain pending), have been paused. The government has asked the affected councils and their partners to suspend LGR implementation work pending the review. Surrey remains unaffected, with East Surrey and West Surrey due to go live in April 2027. The review is linked to the government’s wider plans for rewiring the state, which aim for every area in England to have strategic authorities in place by the end of 2028. A White Paper, to be published this autumn, will set out the wider reforms and implementation timetable. We will keep this content under review as matters progress. For details, see: LGR paused and four decisions withdrawn as government announces rapid programme review, LNB News 08/09/2026 33. For background reading, see: Review

This Practice Note provides an overview of structural changes orders made under Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (LGPIHA 2007). For further local government reorganisation (LGR)-related content, see: Local government reorganisation (LGR)—overview and Practice Notes: Local government reorganisation (LGR)—tracker, Local government reorganisation (LGR)—quick guide and Local government reorganisation (LGR)—key resources. What is a structural changes order? A structural changes order is a statutory instrument that reorganises local government in a named area. It abolishes existing local government structures, creates new local authorities and can expand the existing area of a pre-existing single-tier authority on a specified date. A structural changes order outlines transitional arrangements to prepare for the transfer of functions, property, rights and liabilities from an existing local authority or authorities to a successor local authority or authorities. It also makes provision for the first elections to the new local authority or authorities, including wards, councillor numbers, terms of office, vacancy rules and any necessary consequential or supplementary changes needed to ensure continuity of governance and public services. Relevant

The UK government is progressing a nationwide programme of local government reorganisation (LGR), aimed at replacing two-tier systems with unitary authorities and aligning local structural reform with broader devolution objectives. This Practice Note tracks key developments across the entire spectrum of LGR, including relevant legislation, guidance, policy updates, consultations and developments. For ease of reference, the tracker has been divided into the following sections: • English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 • Other legislation • Key guidance • LGR consultations • Further developments of interest • Bills English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 What's happening? When? Find out more English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (Commencement No 2) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/812 16 July 2026 These Regulations are made to bring into force provisions of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (EDCEA 2026) on local government pension scheme (LGPS) co-operation, audit committees, smaller authorities, Local Audit Office establishment and LGPS accounts separation, including amendments to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (LAAA 2014). They came into force on 15 July 2026.These

Housing delivery Over a number of years, the term local housing company (LHC) has had various meanings in the context of housing delivery vehicles. It was first used post-Housing Act 1996 in the context of large scale voluntary transfer of urban estates to a company which had equal representation of the local housing authority (LHA), tenant and independent members and often attracted government subsidy for example, from the then Estates Regeneration Challenge Fund (ERCF). See Practice Note: Housing stock transfer. The term LHC appeared again in the Housing Green Paper, 'Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable', in July 2007. The model on this occasion as envisaged by English Partnerships (subsequently the Homes and Communities Agency and now Homes England), involved a 50:50 long-term corporate joint venture between the LHA and a private sector partner established to develop local authority land. The term LHC today is used to describe independent arms-length commercial organisations wholly or partly owned by LHAs which develop, buy and manage properties within and outside of an LHA area.

Established under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Part 14 to replace Patients' Forums.

An area established for the purposes of the administration of magistrates’ courts.

The physical circuit connecting the network termination point to a distribution frame or equivalent facility in the fixed public electronic communications network (article 2e of the Access Directive).