Devolution: an upcoming change to how Sussex is governed

At Sussex Wildlife Trust our focus is on protecting spaces for nature, and the amazing wildlife we are privileged to share our county with. To do so, our Conservation Team works hard to engage with local authorities at a strategic level to give nature a voice.

Sussex residents may already be aware of a proposed change to the way our county is governed. We are now on the fast track to devolution, but what does this mean and how will it impact people and nature?

The idea is to create an overarching Combined County Authority to cover the whole of East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton and Hove. This move will include electing a Mayor to represent the county, with further discussion around restructuring the current two-tier system of county councils, and district and borough councils.

If the proposals go ahead, a Mayor will be elected in 2026 and will be in power until 2030. This means they will oversee the remaining critical years until the legally binding 2030 deadline to secure nature's recovery. The timing of this governmental shift is therefore significant. We must see a strong voice for nature in Sussex; one that champions and protects our wildlife and precious natural habitats.

Before anything goes ahead, everyone who lives and works in Sussex has been invited to have their say. We have been studying the proposals and looking at examples of where devolution has already happened to make sure it will deliver for people and nature. The consultation is open until 13th April 2025 and can be found here. We will be responding via these means, and you can too, to make your voice heard and stand up for our wonderful Sussex wildlife.

We will keep you updated on our involvement with this new process, so keep an eye on our news pages and social media.