The government has confirmed it will replace Kent and Medway’s 14 existing councils with four new unitary authorities, with the change due to take effect in April 2028.
All 14 councils across Kent and Medway — Kent County Council, the 12 district and borough councils, and Medway Council — will be abolished and replaced by four larger bodies, each running all local services in their patch. The announcement landed mid-meeting at Kent County Council, briefly interrupting proceedings before members pressed on regardless.
The government’s chosen model is being called “option 4b”. Medway will be merged with Dartford and Gravesham into a single new authority covering the north of the county, with the rest of Kent carved into three further unitary councils. Everything from rubbish collection and social care to highways, education and libraries — currently split awkwardly between county and district tiers — will sit with whichever new council covers your area.
The key dates and figures are:
- 14 existing principal councils currently serve Kent and Medway’s roughly 1.93 million residents
- 4 new unitary councils will replace them under the chosen model
- April 2028 is the target date for the new councils to take on full functions
- 2027–28 will see transitional “shadow councils” set up to manage the handover
- 5 February 2025 was when the Secretary of State formally invited Kent and Medway councils to submit reorganisation proposals
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says the shake-up is designed to simplify local government, cut duplication and make it clearer to residents who’s actually responsible for what. A mayoral strategic authority covering Kent and Medway could follow reorganisation, potentially bringing new powers over transport, planning and investment.
Not everyone’s happy with option 4b, mind. Some district council leaders pushed for more, smaller authorities, arguing that bigger unitaries risk pushing decisions further from the communities they serve — and shrinking the number of elected councillors residents can actually get hold of.
Kent County Council and Medway Council had jointly developed and submitted proposals, including discussions about joining the government’s Devolution Priority Programme. That early bid came to nothing.
Shadow councils are expected to be up and running during 2027–28, before the four new authorities take on their full responsibilities the following April.
Kent and Medway to be split into four new councils by 2028 Quiz
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