The Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

Made: 7th July 2025

Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3)

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 February 2025[^f00003] stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the borough of Swindon. 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 Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

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

• (3) Articles 3 to 6 come 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[^f00004] in 2026.

• (4) 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 Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, 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 that feature.

Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing wards of the borough of Swindon are abolished.

• (2) The borough of Swindon is divided into the 25 wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.

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

• (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 1.

Parish wards of the parishes of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors

4

• (1) The existing parish wards of the following parishes are abolished—

• (a) Central Swindon North;

• (b) Haydon Wick;

• (c) South Swindon;

• (d) Stratton St Margaret.

• (2) The parish of Central Swindon North is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

• (3) The parish of Haydon Wick is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

• (4) The parish of South Swindon is divided into the seven parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

• (5) The parish of Stratton St Margaret is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.

• (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 2.

Parish wards of the parish of Liddington and number of councillors

5

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

• (a) Badbury Wick;

• (b) Liddington.

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

• (3) 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 Table 1 in Schedule 3.

Parish wards of the parish of St Andrews and number of councillors

6

• (1) The parish of St Andrews is divided into two parish wards, namely—

• (a) St Andrews East;

• (b) St Andrews West & Tadpole.

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

• (3) 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 Table 2 in Schedule 3.

Schedule 1 — Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors

Schedule 2 — Parish wards of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors

Schedule 3 — Parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews

Signed

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

Ailsa Irvine — Chief Executive — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — 7th July 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Swindon following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the borough remains unchanged.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Swindon and replaces them with the 25 electoral wards 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 2026. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.

Article 4 makes changes to parish wards that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 4 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in England in 2026 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

Articles 5 and 6 make similar provision specifically for the new parish wards of the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews, which were previously un-warded, for the purpose of parish elections in 2026 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.

The area covered by each 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/swindon/.

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 (c. 20).

[^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/swindon/.

[^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]: The map 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/swindon/.