On 25 March 2026, the government confirmed that Basildon Council and Thurrock Council in Essex will merge to form a single local authority called South West Essex Council. This change is part of a plan to replace 15 councils across the county with five larger organisations by April 2028.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed announced the decision, which includes a pledge for 200 million pounds in debt relief for Thurrock in the 2026-27 financial year. While Basildon Council leaders welcomed the move, some local representatives have questioned if the new council will be large enough to manage services effectively.
Councillor Qaisar Abbas criticised the merger, claiming the decision was based on political interests rather than the needs of the community. Thurrock Council had previously proposed a different model that would have seen it join with other neighbouring towns, but the government chose to proceed with the Basildon partnership instead.
The new South West Essex Council will serve a combined population of around 363,600 residents. Local people will vote in shadow elections for the new authority in May 2027 before the current councils are fully replaced the following year.
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