This Order may be cited as the Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.
The Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
Published: Fri 19th Dec 25
This Order legally enacts the recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England regarding the electoral arrangements for the borough of Middlesbrough, established under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
It abolishes all existing electoral wards within Middlesbrough and replaces them with 20 new wards, detailing the specific area and the corresponding number of councillors for each new ward as listed in the attached Schedule, with full effect beginning for elections held in 2027.
Arguments For
The changes implement the formal recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England following a review process.
Establishing the new ward structure provides updated electoral arrangements appropriate for fair representation in the borough.
The Order provides legal certainty regarding the abolished wards and the precise configuration and councillor allocation for the 20 new wards specified in the Schedule.
By delaying the full commencement of ward changes until the 2027 election cycle, the Order allows time for necessary administrative and procedural preparations for the new structure.
Arguments Against
Abolishing all existing wards requires a complete overhaul of current local electoral boundaries, which might cause temporary administrative confusion.
Residents may experience disruption if their polling districts or established local identities tied to previous wards are significantly altered or merged.
The Order does not include an impact assessment, suggesting potential, albeit minor, effects on the public sector were not fully quantified before enactment.
The effective date for election purposes (2027) creates a gap between the Order's enactment and its full application to local elections.
Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 20091 (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England2 (“the Commission”) published a report dated July 20253 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the borough of Middlesbrough. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations.
The legal basis for this Order is Section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (the Commission) issued a report in July 2025 detailing proposed changes to the electoral structure of the Middlesbrough borough.
The Commission has now chosen to formally adopt these 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.
Before this Order becomes effective, a draft was presented to Parliament.
The necessary 40-day waiting period has passed without either the House of Commons or the House of Lords voting to reject the instrument.
The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act.
The Commission is issuing this Order using the authority granted by Section 59(1) of the referenced Act.
Citation, commencement, extent and application1.
Article 1 defines how the Order is named, when its different parts come into force, and where it legally applies.
(1)
The short title for this legislative document is the Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.
(2)
This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
Article 1 (this article) and Article 2 will become legally active the day immediately following the date this Order is formally made.
(3)
Article 3 comes 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 England4 in 2027.
Article 3, which deals with the new wards, has two different start dates.
It becomes effective for preparatory election processes on October 15, 2026.
For all other legal purposes, it takes full effect on the standard day for electing councillors in England in 2027.
(4)
This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.
Although the legal scope of this Order covers both England and Wales, its operational effect is strictly limited to matters within England.
Interpretation2.
Article 2 provides definitions for terms used throughout the legislative text.
(1)
In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2025” held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England5.
In this document, 'the map' refers specifically to the official map titled “Map referred to in the Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2025,” which is maintained by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
(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.
If a boundary line shown on the map follows a physical feature like a road or river, the boundary is legally considered to run along the middle line of that feature.
Wards of the borough of Middlesbrough and number of councillors3.
Article 3 governs the establishment of the new electoral wards for the borough of Middlesbrough and specifies how many councillors will represent each ward.
(1)
The existing wards of the borough of Middlesbrough are abolished.
All current electoral wards that currently divide the borough of Middlesbrough cease to exist legally under this provision.
(2)
The borough of Middlesbrough is divided into the 20 wards listed in the first column of the table in the Schedule.
The borough is newly divided into exactly twenty electoral wards, whose names are listed in the first column of the Schedule accompanying this Order.
(3)
Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward.
The geographical extent of each new ward is definitively determined by the area marked on the official map that corresponds to the ward's name.
(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 the Schedule.
The number of councillors that will represent each new ward is designated in the second column of the table provided in the Schedule.
Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Ailsa Irvine
Chief Executive
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
This section documents the formal execution of the Order.
It was sealed by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, signed by Ailsa Irvine, the Chief Executive, on December 11, 2025.
ScheduleWards of the borough of Middlesbrough and number of councillors
(1) Name of borough ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Acklam East & Tollesby | 2 |
Acklam North | 2 |
Ayresome & Newport | 3 |
Beechwood & Easterside | 2 |
Berwick Hills & Park End | 3 |
Brambles & Thorntree | 3 |
Central | 3 |
Coulby Newham | 3 |
Hemlington | 2 |
Kader | 2 |
Linthorpe East | 3 |
Linthorpe West | 2 |
Longlands & Grove Hill | 2 |
Marton East | 2 |
Marton West | 3 |
North Ormesby & Boyds | 1 |
Nunthorpe | 2 |
Pallister & Priestfields | 2 |
Stainton & Thornton | 2 |
Trimdon | 2 |
The Schedule details the specifics mentioned in Article 3: the names of the 20 new borough wards in column (1) and the assigned number of councillors for each ward in column (2).
For example, Acklam East & Tollesby will have 2 councillors, and Ayresome & Newport will have 3.
Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Middlesbrough following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. This Order does not change the boundary of the borough itself.
Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Middlesbrough and replaces them with the 20 new ones listed in the Schedule 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.
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/middlesbrough/.
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.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the Order only modifies internal electoral arrangements, not the overall boundary of the Middlesbrough borough.
Article 3 replaces all current wards with 20 new ones, effective for elections in 2027, setting their names and councillor quotas.
The precise boundaries are defined by an official map, inspectable at the Commission's London office or available online. No detailed impact assessment was required because no significant effects on the private, voluntary, or public sectors are anticipated.
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