Will Crawley leave Sussex and join Surrey?

This week, the UK Government rejected a cross-border proposal to form a new unitary authority around Gatwick Airport, submitted jointly by Crawley Borough Council (West Sussex) and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (Surrey).

The proposed council aimed to unify the governance of the Gatwick Diamond – a £13bn economic zone anchored by the UK’s second busiest airport – currently split by county boundaries.

The bid was not included in Surrey’s local government reorganisation (LGR) consultation, which instead focuses on two rival models:

• A two-unitary option (East and West Surrey) preferred by Surrey County Council

• A three-unitary option (East, West and North Surrey) backed by most of the county’s districts

🛑 "Disappointed and perplexed"

Crawley BC expressed strong dissatisfaction with the exclusion, calling it a missed opportunity for the town to weigh up all governance options “based on merit” and economic logic.

📬 But is that the end of the debate?

However, local government minister Jim McMahon clarified that future boundary changes between Surrey and West Sussex are still possible through separate mechanisms. He acknowledged the strategic logic of unifying the Gatwick economic area under one combined authority and encouraged councils to keep collaborating across county lines – particularly as mayoral devolution and combined authority negotiations gather pace.

🗺️ Why it matters for Sussex and regional planning

With West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove already in line for devolution, this Gatwick proposal highlighted the growing challenge of historical boundaries versus real economic geography. The debate underlines tensions between administrative neatness and functional place-making – especially where transport, housing and economic development don’t stop at council borders.

Crawley and Gatwick Airport are also currently responsible for approximately 25% of the business rates in West Sussex, despite being a much smaller % of the land. There are real economic implications for the Sussex region if that tax income moves to Surrey. The proposed cross-border council was seen as a unique new model to try.

Whether or not the Gatwick Diamond ends up within a single authority, the government’s openness to revisiting boundaries and “avoiding a split across two mayors” suggests that the conversation will stay alive for some time.

—
Based on reporting by Caitlin Webb and Andrew Vaux for LGC (Local Government Chronicle), June 2025

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