South West Essex

The idea of merging Basildon and Thurrock was considered in 2021. In February 2025, Essex was accepted into the Devolution Priority Programme. Tied to this, councils were invited to submit proposals for the reorganisation of local government districts by September 2025. The government held statutory consultations from November 2025 to January 2026 and made a decision in March 2026. In South West Essex, it was decided to create a new unitary authority district by combining Basildon and Thurrock. ==Geography==

The largest settlement in the district is the new town of Basildon. The Office for National Statistics mid-2023 population estimate of the district is 368,745. Parishes Most of the district, including Basildon and the whole of the Thurrock area, is unparished. The rest of the area is made of civil parishes: • Billericay, Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet • Great Burstead and South Green • Little Burstead • Noak Bridge • Ramsden Bellhouse, Ramsden Crays • Shotgate • Wickford ==Governance==

The local authority will be South West Essex Council. The first councillors will be elected in the 2027 South West Essex Council election. == References ==