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Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation

Ministers decide future shape of Kent and Medway's councils

Government ministers have decided Kent and Medway will be served by four completely new councils from April 2028. 

In the biggest shake up of local authority arrangements in 50 years, the government is replacing Kent County Council, Medway Council and the 12 district, borough and city councils that currently deliver services in the county with four new unitary councils.

Those councils will deliver all of the services in their area, much like Medway Council does today, including education, social services, highways, libraries, emptying your bins, leisure centres and housing services.

Following a government consultation which attracted around 3,000 responses, the Secretary of State has opted for:

  • A unitary council covering the areas currently served by Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north
  • A unitary council covering the areas currently served by Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west
  • A unitary council covering the areas currently served by Swale, Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe in the middle of Kent
  • A unitary council covering the areas currently served by Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east.

See the Press Release - Ministers decide future shape of Kent and Medway's Councils.

 

DDC LGR Map option 4b FINAL

Recent press releases

Have your say on the way councils in Kent and Medway are organised

DDC Councillors support a four-unitary council plan for Kent

Councils reveal draft business cases for new councils

Council reorganisation takes the next step

For more information on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) progress in Kent, please click here 

Indicative timeline for LGR

LGR indicative timeline web

What will happen next?  

The Government has made the decision on the unitary geography for the county of Kent, and is set to begin transitional, parliamentary legal work after the summer recess 2026.  

We will continue to provide our services as Dover District Council until 31 March 2028.  Town and Parish councils are unaffected.

More information

If you require any further information, here are some useful links: 

Local information: 

National information: 

  • DCN’s briefing – English Devolution White Paper