Kent and Medway to be served by four unitary councils from 1 April 2028

In a statement to Parliament earlier today (Thursday 16 July 2026), the Secretary of State has announced that Kent and Medway will be served by four unitary councils from 1 April 2028.

This is the biggest change in local authority structures in Kent and elsewhere in England in 50 years. The government is replacing Kent County Council, Medway Council and the 12 district, borough and city councils that currently deliver services in the county with four completely new unitary councils.

This means that from 1 April 2028 Thanet District Council will no longer exist. Instead council staff and services will transfer to a new unitary council which will cover the areas currently covered by Thanet District Council; Canterbury City Council; and Dover District Council. Obviously, County Council services that operate in this area will also need to be disaggregated. Other parts of Kent will also change. 

This is the option that was supported by Thanet District Council when submissions were made to the government last November.

These councils will deliver all of the services in their area, much like Medway Council does today, including education, social services, highways, libraries, emptying the bins, leisure centres and housing services.

The new councils will not come into being until 1 April 2028. Now the geographies are known, this huge transformation programme can start to get underway.

Cllr Rick Everitt, Leader of Thanet District Council, said: “Thanet councillors have overwhelmingly supported plans for local government reorganisation and devolution in Kent, so I am pleased that a decision has been made and that we can now move forward.

“This four unitary model for the county was always our preferred option and I am pleased that government has listened and agreed that it is the best option. It is the right compromise between economic viability and local identity.

“We already work closely with Canterbury City Council and Dover District Council, and we will now work hard with our neighbours and with Kent County Council to give the new authority a successful start and a firm foundation to look after key services for residents in our unique towns and villages for decades to come.”

All of the councils in Kent and Medway have a long history of working closely together to do the very best for our residents and for our staff and that will not change.

The focus will be supporting staff through this change, while ensuring the council continues to deliver our business-as-usual services seamlessly for residents.