The Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2024

Made: 13th November 2024

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2), (3), (4), (5) and (6)

Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009[^f00001] (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00002] (“the Commission”) published a report dated July 2024[^f00003] stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for Essex. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.

A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made.

The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2024.

• (2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.

• (3) Article 3 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England[^f00004] in 2026.

• (4) Article 4 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2025;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026.

• (5) Article 5 comes into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2026;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027.

• (6) Articles 6 and 7 come into force—

• (a) for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2027;

• (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028.

• (7) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

Interpretation

2

• (1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2024”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England[^f00005].

• (2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

Electoral divisions of Essex and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing electoral divisions of Essex are abolished.

• (2) Essex is divided into the 78 electoral divisions listed in Schedule 1.

• (3) Each electoral division comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the electoral division.

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division is 1.

Parish wards of the parish of Wickford

4

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Wickford are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Wickford is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 2.

• (3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 2.

Parish wards of the parishes of Chelmsford Garden, Ramsey & Parkeston, Rayleigh and Rochford

5

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Chelmsford Garden, Ramsey & Parkeston, Rayleigh and Rochford are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Chelmsford Garden is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 3.

• (3) The parish of Ramsey & Parkeston is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 3.

• (4) The parish of Rayleigh is divided into the eight parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 3.

• (5) The parish of Rochford is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 3.

• (6) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

• (7) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 3.

Parish wards of the parish of Billericay

6

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parish of Billericay are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Billericay is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 4.

• (3) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 4.

Parish wards of the parish of Epping Upland

7

• (1) The parish of Epping Upland is divided into two parish wards, namely—

• (a) Epping Green, which has six councillors; and

• (b) Pond Field, which has one councillor.

• (2) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.

Schedule 1 — Electoral Divisions of Essex

1

Billericay North

2

Bocking

3

Braintree Eastern

4

Braintree Town

5

Brentwood Hutton

6

Brentwood North

7

Brentwood Rural

8

Brentwood South

9

Brightlingsea

10

Broomfield & Writtle

11

Burnham & Southminster

12

Burstead

13

Canvey Island East

14

Canvey Island West

15

Castledon & Crouch

16

Chelmer

17

Chelmsford Central

18

Chelmsford North

19

Chelmsford Springfield

20

Chelmsford West

21

Chigwell & Buckhurst Hill East

22

Clacton North

23

Clacton South

24

Clacton West & St Osyth

25

Colchester Abbey

26

Colchester Lexden

27

Colchester Maypole

28

Colchester North

29

Colchester St Johns

30

Constable

31

Danbury & The Hanningfields

32

Dunmow

33

Epping & Theydon Bois

34

Frinton & Walton

35

Gloucester Park

36

Great Baddow & Galleywood

37

Hadleigh

38

Halstead

39

Harlow Common & Church Langley

40

Harlow Netteswell

41

Harlow Parndon & Toddbrook

42

Harlow South West

43

Harwich

44

Hedingham

45

Laindon Town

46

Loughton North

47

Loughton South & Buckhurst Hill West

48

Maldon Rural North

49

Maldon Rural South

50

Maldon Town & Heybridge

51

Mersea & Tiptree

52

North Weald & Nazeing

53

Old Harlow

54

Ongar & Rural

55

Pitsea

56

Rayleigh South

57

Rayleigh West

58

Rochford East

59

Rochford North

60

Rochford South

61

Saffron Walden

62

South Benfleet

63

Stansted

64

Stanway & Marks Tey

65

Takeley

66

Tendring Rural East

67

Tendring Rural West

68

Thaxted

69

Three Fields & Great Notley

70

Thundersley

71

Vange

72

Waltham Abbey

73

Westley Heights

74

Wickford East & Bowers Gifford

75

Witham Town

76

Witham West & Rural

77

Wivenhoe St Andrew

78

Woodham Ferrers

Schedule 2 — Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Wickford

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Wickford Castledon	6
Wickford Central	3
Wickford North	7
Wickford Park	4

Schedule 3 — Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parishes of Chelmsford Garden, Ramsey & Parkeston, Rayleigh and Rochford

Table 1

Parish wards of the parish of Chelmsford Garden and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Central	2
East	1
North	1
South	6
South West	3

Table 2

Parish wards of the parish of Ramsey & Parkeston and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Hewitt Road	2
Parkeston	4
Ramsey	5

Table 3

Parish wards of the parish of Rayleigh and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Grange	5
King Georges	2
Lodge	4
Sweyne Park	3
Trinity	5
Victoria	1
Wheatley	2
Whitehouse	1

Table 4

Parish wards of the parish of Rochford and number of councillors

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
King Edmund	4
South	3
South East	3
Waterman	2

Schedule 4 — Names of parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Billericay

(1) Name of parish ward	(2) Number of councillors
Billericay Central	3
Billericay East	6
Billericay South West	3
Billericay West	8

Signed

Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Ailsa Irvine — Chief Executive — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — 13th November 2024

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for Essex following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the local authority itself.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral divisions of Essex and replaces them with the 78 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections to be held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2025. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral divisions and the number of councillors for each.

Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 make changes to parish wards which are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by articles 4 and 5 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in 2026 and 2027 respectively, and in respect of subsequent parish elections. The changes introduced by articles 6 and 7 apply in relation to parish elections in 2028, and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each electoral division and parish ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ.

The map may also be accessed at: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/essex.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2009 c. 20.

[^f00002]: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

[^f00003]: The report is available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/essex.

[^f00004]: The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50), renumbered by paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), and further amended by section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4).

[^f00005]: Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. It is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/essex.

Editorial notes

[^key-0a1ba7379f3206c33df17d632bad13e0]: Art. 4 in force at 15.10.2025 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026 otherwise, see art. 1(4)

[^key-0a2d90f6364897855144bb097f6cae52]: Sch. 3 in force at 15.10.2026 ffor specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027 otherwise, see art. 1(5)

[^key-16f7c2124c0859729c38e3bc54ff9b78]: Sch. 1 in force at 14.11.2024 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026 otherwise, see art. 1(3)

[^key-188fe93401577c2def85221d01cc7153]: Word in art. 1(3)(b) substituted (4.3.2025) by The Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/137), arts. 1(1), 5(1)(f)

[^key-1bc8fd95ee4647a0dc02acaa437b32a1]: Sch. 2 in force at 15.10.2025 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026 otherwise, see art. 1(4)

[^key-4289beb7b22e1d3469b1e4a84098dba3]: Art. 5 in force at 15.10.2026 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027 otherwise, see art. 1(5)

[^key-72e366730e7b5b9388bcaeecb4827dd6]: Art. 3 in force at 14.11.2024 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026 otherwise, see art. 1(3)

[^key-77b63d6e707c53ad70d238b811235b30]: Art. 6 in force at 15.10.2027 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028 otherwise, see art. 1(6)

[^key-7bc42d9313229351f1efadc38119482a]: Sch. 4 in force at 15.10.2027 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028 otherwise, see art. 1(6)

[^key-8bf0c1be9a1af5e01da4c93f89aa5972]: Art. 1 in force at 14.11.2024, see art. 1(2)

[^key-d40c55df2b7ee4b2b61f3579b502102d]: Art. 2 in force at 14.11.2024, see art. 1(2)

[^key-e702e0651cf5785af8c243b9bbb7f2b5]: Art. 7 in force at 15.10.2027 for specified purposes and on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028 otherwise, see art. 1(6)