The Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
The Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025 implements recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, altering electoral arrangements in the borough of Swindon.
Existing borough and parish wards are abolished and replaced with 25 new borough wards and revised parish wards in Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon, Stratton St Margaret, Liddington, and St Andrews.
The order specifies the number of councillors each ward will elect and outlines the effective dates for different aspects of the changes, with some changes taking effect in October 2025 and others in 2026.
A map detailing the new ward boundaries is available for public inspection.
Arguments For
Improved Representation: The order aims to create electoral wards that are more representative of the population and communities within Swindon, leading to fairer representation in local government.
Efficiency and Effectiveness: Redistributing wards might enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of local government by optimizing ward boundaries and councillor allocations.
Legal Compliance: This order is made under the powers granted by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, ensuring its legal basis and compliance with existing legislation.
Independent Commission Recommendations: The changes are based on recommendations by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England, adding an element of impartiality and neutrality to the process.
Arguments Against
Disruption to Existing Systems: Changing ward boundaries and councillor numbers can disrupt existing local services, council operations, and community structures.
Political Gerrymandering Concerns: While based on an independent commission's recommendation, concerns might exist about potential manipulation of boundaries for political advantage, although the independent body should mitigate this risk.
Public Consultation Limitations: Although the process involves recommendations, the degree of public consultation and the opportunity for feedback might vary, impacting local buy-in.
Unforeseen Consequences: Changes to electoral boundaries can have unforeseen consequences, including potential shifting of political power balances and impact on local services.
Citation, commencement, extent and application1.
(1)
This Order may be cited as the Swindon (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.
(3)
Articles 3 to 6 come into force—
(a)
for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2025;
(b)
for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England4 in 2026.
(4)
This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.
This section provides the official title of the Order (Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025).
It also specifies the commencement dates: Article 1 and Article 2 take effect the day after the Order is made, while Articles 3-6 have staggered implementation—for preliminary election proceedings on October 15th, 2025, and for all other purposes on the usual council election day in 2026.
The Order applies to England, despite extending legally to both England and Wales.
Interpretation2.
(1)
In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Swindon (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England5.
(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.
This article defines key terms used in the Order. 'The map' refers to a specific map held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which shows the new ward boundaries.
The section clarifies that boundaries shown following geographical features such as roads are considered the center lines of those features.
Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors3.
(1)
The existing wards of the borough of Swindon are abolished.
(2)
The borough of Swindon is divided into the 25 wards listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1.
(3)
Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward.
(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 Schedule 1.
This article abolishes Swindon's existing electoral wards.
It establishes 25 new wards, their names listed in Schedule 1, and details their boundaries as shown on the designated map.
The number of councillors elected for each ward is also detailed in Schedule 1.
Parish wards of the parishes of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors4.
(1)
The existing parish wards of the following parishes are abolished—
(a)
Central Swindon North;
(b)
Haydon Wick;
(c)
South Swindon;
(d)
Stratton St Margaret.
(2)
The parish of Central Swindon North is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of Table 1 in Schedule 2.
(3)
The parish of Haydon Wick is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of Table 2 in Schedule 2.
(4)
The parish of South Swindon is divided into the seven parish wards listed in the first column of Table 3 in Schedule 2.
(5)
The parish of Stratton St Margaret is divided into the four parish wards listed in the first column of Table 4 in Schedule 2.
(6)
Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(7)
The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 2.
This article abolishes existing parish wards in four parishes: Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon, and Stratton St Margaret.
It then creates new parish wards within these areas, with names and numbers detailed in Schedule 2.
Boundaries are defined by the map, and the councilor allocation for each new ward is specified in the relevant tables within Schedule 2.
Parish wards of the parish of Liddington and number of councillors5.
(1)
The parish of Liddington is divided into two parish wards, namely—
(a)
Badbury Wick;
(b)
Liddington.
(2)
Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(3)
The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 1 in Schedule 3.
This article divides the parish of Liddington into two new parish wards: Badbury Wick and Liddington.
Their boundaries are shown on the map, and the number of councillors each will elect is in Schedule 3, Table 1.
Parish wards of the parish of St Andrews and number of councillors6.
(1)
The parish of St Andrews is divided into two parish wards, namely—
(a)
St Andrews East;
(b)
St Andrews West & Tadpole.
(2)
Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward.
(3)
The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that parish ward in the second column of Table 2 in Schedule 3.
This article divides the parish of St Andrews into two new parish wards: St Andrews East and St Andrews West & Tadpole.
The boundaries are shown on the map, and the number of councillors each will elect is specified in Schedule 3, Table 2.
Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England
This section shows the official seal and signature of the Chief Executive of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, confirming the Order's authentication and the date of its signing (July 7th, 2025).
Schedule 1Wards of the borough of Swindon and number of councillors
Article 3
(1) Name of borough ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Badbury Park, Eldene & Liden | 3 |
Blunsdon | 1 |
Broadgreen | 2 |
Chiseldon & Ridgeway | 2 |
Covingham & Nythe | 2 |
Gorse Hill | 1 |
Haydon Wick | 3 |
Highworth | 2 |
Kingshill | 2 |
Lower Stratton | 3 |
Lydiard, Freshbrook & Toothill | 3 |
Old Town & Lawn | 3 |
Parks | 2 |
Penhill & Pinehurst | 2 |
Priory Vale | 3 |
Queen’s Park | 3 |
Rodbourne Cheney | 2 |
Rodbourne Ferndale & Western | 3 |
Shaw & Westlea | 3 |
South Marston | 1 |
St Andrews East | 2 |
St Andrews West & Tadpole | 2 |
Upper Stratton | 2 |
Walcot | 2 |
Wroughton & Wichelstowe | 3 |
Schedule 1 lists the 25 new borough wards in Swindon and the number of councillors to be elected from each ward.
The table provides a complete breakdown of the ward structure for future elections
Schedule 2Parish wards of Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon and Stratton St Margaret and number of councillors
Article 4
Table 1Parish wards of the parish of Central Swindon North and number of councillors(1) Name of parish ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Even Swindon | 3 |
Gorse Hill | 2 |
Penhill | 2 |
Pinehurst | 2 |
Rodbourne Cheney | 4 |
Rodbourne Ferndale | 3 |
(1) Name of parish ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Haydon Wick | 9 |
Priory Vale | 9 |
(1) Name of parish ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Badbury Park | 1 |
Broadgreen | 3 |
Kingshill | 3 |
Old Town & Lawn | 5 |
Parks | 4 |
Queen’s Park | 4 |
Walcot | 3 |
(1) Name of parish ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Coleview | 3 |
Lower Coleview | 2 |
Lower Stratton | 7 |
Upper Stratton | 7 |
Schedule 2 details the new parish ward structures for Central Swindon North, Haydon Wick, South Swindon, and Stratton St Margaret.
Each table shows the new parish wards and the number of councillors for each.
This provides a detailed breakdown of the changes to parish representation.
Schedule 3Parish wards and number of councillors for the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews
Articles 5 and 6
Table 1Parish wards of the parish of Liddington and number of councillors(1) Name of parish ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
Badbury Wick | 3 |
Liddington | 4 |
(1) Name of parish ward | (2) Number of councillors |
|---|---|
St Andrews East | 5 |
St Andrews West & Tadpole | 6 |
Schedule 3 outlines the structure of the newly created parish wards for Liddington and St Andrews.
The tables list the wards and the number of councillors for each ward which will be elected from those wards.
This provides a comprehensive list for both parishes.
This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Swindon following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the borough remains unchanged.
Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Swindon and replaces them with the 25 electoral wards listed in Schedule 1 for the purpose of elections to be held on or after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026. It also establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each.
Article 4 makes changes to parish wards that are consequential on the changes made by article 3. The changes to parish wards introduced by article 4 come into force for the purpose of parish elections in England in 2026 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.
Articles 5 and 6 make similar provision specifically for the new parish wards of the parish of Liddington and the parish of St Andrews, which were previously un-warded, for the purpose of parish elections in 2026 and in respect of subsequent parish elections.
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 offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 7th Floor, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ. The map may also be accessed at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/swindon/.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.
The explanatory note summarizes the order's impact.
It clarifies that the order alters electoral arrangements based on commission recommendations, without changing Swindon's overall area.
It explains that Articles 3, 4, 5, and 6 bring about changes in electoral wards and parish wards, effective from 2026 onwards.
It details where to access the associated map showing new boundary lines and states that a full impact assessment wasn't conducted because of insignificant effects on the public, private, and voluntary sector.