Local Government Reorganisation proposals

All the councils in Kent and Medway have submitted proposals to government for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

The proposals were compiled with the help of experienced advisers KPMG. They explore different options for the number of unitary councils in Kent and the areas they should cover in the future.

Medway's proposal

We're proposing to reorganise Kent and Medway into 4 unitary councils with changes to existing council boundaries.

Option 4d

Our proposal consists of:

  • North Kent - parts of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale
  • West Kent - remaining parts of Dartford, Gravesham and Medway, with Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and parts of Tonbridge and Malling
  • Mid Kent - Maidstone and Ashford with the remaining parts of Tonbridge and Malling and Swale, and part of Folkestone and Hythe
  • East Kent - Canterbury, Thanet and Dover with the remaining parts of Swale and Folkestone and Hythe.

View our full business case for option 4d.

View our business case summary.

This option is also supported by:

  • Ashford Borough Council
  • Canterbury City Council.
Map for option 4d

 

View a higher resolution map for option 4d.

Why option 4d is the strongest

We believe our proposal is the right one for Kent and Medway.

Find out why we believe option 4d is the best model.

Other options

In addition to our proposal, 4 other options have been submitted to government.

Option 1a

This proposal is for a single unitary council covering Kent and Medway with 3 area assemblies covering:

  • Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale in the north
  • Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west
  • Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe in the east.

View the business case for option 1a.

This option is supported by Kent County Council.

Map for Option 1a

 

View a higher resolution map for option 1a.

Option 3a

This option is for 3 unitary councils consisting of:

  • Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale in the north
  • Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west
  • Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe in the east.

View the business case for option 3a.

This option is supported by:

  • Folkestone & Hythe District Council
  • Maidstone Borough Council
  • Sevenoaks District Council
  • Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
  • Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Map for option 3a

 

View a higher resolution version of the map for option 3a.

Option 4b

This option is for 4 unitary councils consisting of:

  • Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north
  • Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west
  • Swale, Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe in the middle of Kent
  • Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east.

View the business case for option 4b.

This option is supported by:

  • Dover District Council
  • Swale Borough Council
  • Thanet District Council.
Map for option 4b

 

View a higher resolution version of the map for option 4b.

Option 5a

This proposal is for 5 unitary councils including a number of boundary changes.

This consists of:

  • Dartford, Gravesham, parts of Medway west of the River Medway, and Swanley in the north
  • Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, and Maidstone (excluding Swanley) in the west
  • the remainder of Medway with the western part of Swale (Sittingbourne area) in the middle
  • the rest of Swale (Faversham area) combined with Canterbury and Thanet
  • Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe, and Dover in the east.

View the business case for option 5a.

This option is supported by:

  • Dartford Borough Council
  • Gravesham Borough Council.
Map for option 5a

 

View a higher resolution map for option 5a.