# The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order provides for the establishment, on 1st April 2027, of a single tier of local government in Surrey. Part 2 creates two new councils: West Surrey Council, for the same area as the existing districts of Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking; and East Surrey Council, for the same area as the existing districts of Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge.
The County of Surrey and the districts of Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge, Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking are abolished as local government areas with effect from 1st April 2027. The county council and district councils in the county are wound up.
Part 3 of the Order deals with transitional implementation duties, including duties on the county council and existing district councils, in particular to cooperate with each other and the shadow authorities and shadow executives and to create joint committees.
The new councils, to which elections are to be held in 2026, will operate as “shadow authorities” until 1st April 2027. Part 4 of the Order contains the arrangements for the shadow authorities, including their functions which are principally to prepare for the transition to a single tier of local government on 1st April 2027.
Part 5 of the Order deals with electoral matters. Elections for the new councils will take place on the ordinary day of elections in 2026, 2031 and every fourth year thereafter. Article 43 provides for the filling of certain casual vacancies by by-election where the casual vacancy occurred during the period of six months before the date on which the councillor whose office is vacant would otherwise have retired but for the coming into force of this Order.
Schedules 1 and 2 set out the electoral wards of East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council respectively.
A full regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as this instrument will have no impact on the costs of business and the voluntary sector. The impact on the public sector is a simplification to the system of local government in Surrey.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/264/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/surrey-structural-changes-order-2026/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.