# The Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2026 Draft 2026, ISBN 9780348288377 This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Darlington following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the district itself. Made under: Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 ## Introductory text Draft Order laid before Parliament under section 59(9) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009; draft to lie for forty days pursuant to section 6(1) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946, during which period either House of Parliament may resolve that the Order be not made. LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND Made *** Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3) Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (“the Commission”) published a report dated September 2026 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Darlington. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations. A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made. The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act. ## 1 Citation, commencement, extent and application (1) This Order may be cited as the Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2026. (2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made. (3) Articles 3 to 5 come into force— (a) for the purposes of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made; (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027. (4) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only. ## 2 Interpretation (1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2026” held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. (2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse, or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of that feature. ## 3 Wards of the district of Darlington and number of councillors (1) The existing wards of the district of Darlington are abolished. (2) The district of Darlington is divided into the 19 wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1. (3) Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward. (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 1. ## 4 Parish wards of the parish of Whessoe and number of councillors (1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Whessoe are abolished. (2) The parish of Whessoe is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 2. (3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 2. ## 5 Parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent and number of councillors (1) The parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent is divided into the 2 parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 3. (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (3) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 3. ## Signature Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Chief Executive Local Government Boundary Commission for England ## Schedule 1 Wards of the district of Darlington and number of councillors (1) Name of district ward (2) Number of councillors Albert Hill & Red Hall 1 Bank Top & Lascelles 2 Branksome & Cockerton 2 Brinkburn 1 Central Park & Lingfield 2 College 3 Firthmoor 2 Harrowgate Hill 3 Heighington & High Coniscliffe 2 Hummersknott & Blackwell 2 Hurworth 2 Mowden 2 North Road 2 Park East 2 Pierremont 3 Sadberge & Middleton St George 3 Springfield 2 West Park & Faverdale 2 Whinfield & Haughton 3 ## Schedule 2 Parish wards of the parish of Whessoe and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Beaumont Hill 3 Burtree Lane 5 ## Schedule 3 Parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent and number of councillors (1) Name of parish ward (2) Number of councillors Low Coniscliffe 6 Merrybent 1 ## Explanatory note (This note is not part of the Order) This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Darlington following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the district itself. Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the district of Darlington and replaces them with the 19 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purposes of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each. Article 4 makes changes to the parish wards of the parish of Whessoe that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 4 come into force for the purposes of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections. Article 5 makes similar provision for the new parish wards of the parish of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent, which was previously un-warded, for the purposes of parish elections in 2027 and in respect of subsequent parish elections. The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/darlington/. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348288377 (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-darlington-electoral-changes-order-2026 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.