The Westmorland and Furness (Electoral Changes) Order 2026

Made: 11th March 2026

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 September 2025[^f00003] stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the district of Westmorland and Furness. 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 Westmorland and Furness (Electoral Changes) Order 2026.

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

• (3) Articles 3 and 4 come into force—

• (a) for the purposes 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[^f00004] in 2027.

• (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 Westmorland and Furness (Electoral Changes) Order 2026” 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 district of Westmorland and Furness and number of councillors

3

• (1) The existing wards of the district of Westmorland and Furness are abolished.

• (2) The district of Westmorland and Furness is divided into the 35 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 Barrow, Dalton Town with Newton, Kendal, Pennington, Penrith and Ulverston and number of councillors

4

• (1) The existing parish wards of the parishes of Barrow, Dalton Town with Newton, Kendal, Pennington, Penrith and Ulverston are abolished.

• (2) The parish of Barrow is divided into the 11 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.

• (3) The parish of Dalton Town with Newton is divided into the 4 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.

• (4) The parish of Kendal is divided into the 10 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.

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

• (6) The parish of Penrith is divided into the 6 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 5 in Schedule 2.

• (7) The parish of Ulverston is divided into the 7 parish wards listed in the first column of Table 6 in Schedule 2.

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

• (9) 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.

Schedule 1 — Wards of the district of Westmorland and Furness and number of councillors

Schedule 2 — Parish wards of the parishes of Barrow, Dalton Town with Newton, Kendal, Pennington, Penrith and Ulverston and number of councillors

Signed

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

Alisa Irvine — Chief Executive — Local Government Boundary Commission for England — 11th March 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the district of Westmorland and Furness following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the district itself.

Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the district of Westmorland and Furness and replaces them with the 35 new ones listed in Schedule 1 for the purposes of elections held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027. 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 purposes of parish elections in 2027 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 principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map is also accessible online at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/westmorland-and-furness/.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector 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/westmorland-and-furness/.

[^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/westmorland-and-furness/.