It was great to see such a strong turnout at the Constructing Excellence Surrey Club event in Guildford, exploring the topic of devolution and what it could mean for the county.

We were delighted to help organise and present at the session, which brought together around 25 to 30 representatives from across the construction industry. The discussions were lively and engaging, with many attendees finding it an insightful introduction to devolution.

A highlight of the event was hearing from Cllr Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment & Planning, who joined us as guest speaker. Drawing on her experience at Surrey County Council since 2006, she shared her perspective on the reorganisation process and reflected on what the next steps might look like. From her contribution, it’s clear that she could play a pivotal role as Surrey moves towards becoming a unitary.

Devolution in Surrey – what’s happening?

Currently, Surrey has 11 District and Borough Councils and one County Council. As part of the Government’s plans for local government reorganisation, Surrey has been selected for the ‘first wave’ of devolution, with elections for any new unitary authorities expected in 2026, followed by a Mayoral election in 2027.

There are two main proposals under discussion:

• Two Unitary Councils Proposal – dividing Surrey into East and West. East Surrey would include areas such as Elmbridge and Reigate & Banstead, while West Surrey would cover Guildford, Woking and others. This model is supported by Surrey County Council and some district councils.
• Three Unitary Councils Proposal – splitting the county into North, West and East. This option is backed by the majority of district and borough councils.

Both approaches aim to simplify governance, reduce bureaucracy and give local leaders more strategic control over planning, housing and transport. The main difference lies in how communities are grouped and represented, with those believing a split into three will ensure community voice is protected.

After consultation over summer a joint application to government was submitted with a response expected in the coming weeks, this will provide clarity on the next steps for Surrey.

What this means for the industry

For those working in planning, development and construction, these changes could have wide-ranging implications:

• Clients ‘going early’ – in line with current trends linked to NPPF changes, we may see more speculative applications being put forward ahead of reorganisation.
• Officers ‘going quiet’ – as attention shifts to new boundaries and wider county changes, there’s a risk of day-to-day responsibilities being delayed or deprioritised.
• Elections moving – altered timetables will affect decision-making and continuity.
• Local Plans ‘going slow’ – while this may not feel immediate, slower progress on Local Plans will impact planning applications being brought forward and slow construction timelines.
• Planning committees – all change – the reshaping of councils will mean significant changes to committee structures and decision-making processes.

These shifts will take time to play out, but the direction of travel is clear: the industry will need to adapt to a more centralised, strategic approach to planning in Surrey.

Overall, the event was a real success: insightful, engaging and a springboard for stronger collaboration in Surrey.