West Hertfordshire (district)
West Hertfordshire | |
|---|---|
Future unitary authority area | |
 | |
 | |
 Interactive map | |
| Coordinates: 51°45′08″N 0°20′20″W / 51.7521°N 0.3390°W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | East of England |
| Ceremonial county | Hertfordshire |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | West Hertfordshire Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 81.65 sq mi (211.46 km2) |
| Population (2024 estimate) | |
• Total | 312,432 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
West Hertfordshire[1] or North West Hertfordshire is expected to be a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Hertfordshire, England.[2] It was planned to be formed on 1 April 2028, with elections planned to take place in May 2027 to a shadow authority.[3] The largest settlement will be Hemel Hempstead[4] and it will also include Berkhamsted, Harpenden, St Albans, and Tring.[5] The area has a 2024 estimated population of 312,432.[6] Plans to create it were halted in September 2026 and the 2027 election was cancelled.
Formation
[edit]It will be formed from the Dacorum and St Albans districts.[7] Hemel Hempstead and St Albans are currently unparished, the rest of the area is parished.[5] The St Albans district currently holds city status, and its district council has considered maintaining this by either establishment of charter trustees, or a civil parish for St Albans.[8]
The district is being formed as part of ongoing local government changes throughout England, in which all areas of the country that have separate county councils and district councils will see those replaced with single-tier, or unitary, local governance.[9] The alternative proposals for two unitaries and three unitaries were not accepted.[10]
In September 2026, the Hertfordshire proposals were halted by the government and placed under review.[11]
Governance
[edit]It will be run by West Hertfordshire Council, which will comprise 84 councillors.[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ Miller, Ruth (21 July 2026). "Dear Chief Executives," (PDF). gov.uk.
- ↑ Heath, Martin (16 July 2026). "Hertfordshire to see 11 councils reduced to four". BBC News.
- ↑ Richards, Huw (16 July 2026). "Local government reorganisation puts residents 'at risk', says council leader". Herts Advertiser.
- ↑ "Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Figure 1". Office for National Statistics.
- 1 2 "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey.
- ↑ "Proposal for four unitary authorities" (PDF). Hertfordshire LGR. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation: decision letter to Hertfordshire council leaders" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Future of St Albans Mayoralty and creation of a new parish council would be considered in a community governance review". St Albans City & District Council. 1 July 2025.
- ↑ Forsyth, Alex (16 July 2026). "New councils to be created in 14 areas of England in local government shake-up". BBC News.
- ↑ "Proposals for local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire". Gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Plans for major overhaul of councils halted". BBC News. 7 September 2026. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
- ↑ "Local government reorganisation: implementation letter to Hertfordshire chief executives" (PDF). Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
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