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This is a list of boundary changes occurring in theLondon region of England, since the re-organisation of local government following the passing of theLondon Government Act 1963.
Greater London was created by combining whole existing units of local government and it was anticipated that this might provide an arbitrary boundary in some places.[1] The London Government Act 1963 Section 6 (4) provided a mechanism for communities on the edge of Greater London to petition for transfer to a neighbouring county. The legislation required the petition to be submitted between 1965 and 1970, to be signed by more than 300 local electors and for the area to be transferred to have no more than 10% of the borough's local electors.[2] These were completed in 1969 as the transfers ofKnockholt to Kent, and ofFarleigh andHooley to Surrey. Section 6 (3) of the act allowed for transfers between Greater London and neighbouring counties where there was consensus for the change between all the relevant local authorities. This power was used to exchange two islands on theRiver Thames that were connected to the river bank by bridges on the opposite side of the river to their respective counties.Thames Ditton Island was transferred to Surrey from Greater London andPlatts Eyot was transferred the other way.[3]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1965 | London Government Act 1963[4] | Greater London created from theCounty of London, most ofMiddlesex and parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire |
| 1 April 1969 | The Greater London, Kent and Surrey Order, 1968 | Changes to the
|
| 1 April 1970 | The Greater London and Surrey Order, 1970 | Changes to the Richmond upon Thames (Greater London)/Esher Urban District (Surrey) boundary Thames Ditton Island from Greater London to Surrey andPlatts Eyot from Surrey to Greater London |
TheLocal Government Boundary Commission for England (or LGBCE) was established by theLocal Government Act 1972 to review the administrative boundaries of every local authority in England. Between 1974 and 1992 they completed a series of Principal Area Boundary Reviews; reviewing the administrative boundaries of local authorities at their request.[5]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | Effect | LGBCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1982 | The Greater London and Buckinghamshire (Areas) Order 1981 | Changes to the Hillingdon (Greater London)/South Bucks (Buckinghamshire) boundary | Report No. 411: Hillingdon/South Buckinghamshire at theWayback Machine (archived 2022-03-19) January 1981 |
In 1985, they began the first full administrative review of all non-metropolitan counties. Their reviews of metropolitan counties and Greater London began in 1987 and both reviews were completed in 1992.[6]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | Effect | LGBCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1993 | The Greater London and Kent (County Boundaries) Order 1992[7] | Changes to the Bexley (Greater London)/Dartford (Kent) boundary | Report No. 598: Bexley January 1991 |
| 1 April 1993 | The Greater London and Hertfordshire (County Boundaries) Order 1992[8] | Changes to the
| Report No. 594: Barnet January 1991 |
| 1 April 1993 | The Greater London and Hertfordshire (County and District Boundaries) Order 1992[9] | Changes to the
| Report No. 610: Harrow October 1991 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Barnet, Camden and Westminster (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[10] | Changes to the
| Report No. 656: Camden June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Bexley and Greenwich (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[11] | Changes to the Bexley/Greenwich (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 622: Greenwich (Thamesmead) January 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Bromley and Greenwich (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[12] | Changes to the Bromley/Greenwich (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 642: Greenwich (Mottingham) May 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Bromley and Lewisham (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[13] | Changes to the Bromley/Lewisham (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 641: Bromley (Lewisham) May 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[14] | Changes to the
| Report No. 632: Crystal Palace April 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The City and London Borough Boundaries Order 1993[15] | Changes to the
| Report No. 636: City of London April 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[16] | Changes to the
| Report No. 623: Croydon (Lambeth) February 1992 Report No. 624: Lambeth February 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[17] | Changes to the
| Report No. 662: Ealing August 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[18] | Changes to the
| Report No. 676: Hillingdon September 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The East London Boroughs (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[19] | Changes to the
| Report No. 660: Barking and Dagenham June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The East London Boroughs (London Borough Boundaries) (No. 2) Order 1993[20] | Changes to the
| Report No. 661: Newham June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Essex and Greater London (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[21] | Changes to the
Re-alignment to the modern course of theRiver Lea | Report No. 618: Waltham Forest February 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Essex and Greater London (County and London Borough Boundaries) (No.2) Order 1993[22] | Changes to the
Some alignment to the M25 motorway and transfer of part ofGreat Warley from Greater London † | Report No. 654: Havering June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Essex, Greater London and Hertfordshire (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[23] | Changes to the
Some alignment to the M25 motorway | Report No. 672: Enfield August 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Greater London and Surrey (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[24] | Changes to the
| Report No. 615: Croydon (Bromley/Outer London) November 1991 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Greater London and Surrey (County and London Borough Boundaries) (No. 2) Order 1993[25] | Changes to the
| Report No. 647: Richmond upon Thames May 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Greater London and Surrey (County and London Borough Boundaries) (No. 3) Order 1993[26] | Changes to the
| |
| 1 April 1994 | The Greater London and Surrey (County and London Borough Boundaries) (No. 4) Order 1993[27] | Changes to the
| Report No. 652: Hounslow August 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Greater London, Kent and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1993[28] | Changes to the
Southern tip of Bromley atTatsfield to Surrey † | Report No. 620: Bromley (Bexley/Outer London) February 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Greenwich and Lewisham (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[29] | Changes to the Greenwich/Lewisham (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 653: Lewisham June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Hackney and Tower Hamlets (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[30] | Changes to the Hackney/Tower Hamlets (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 634: Tower Hamlets April 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Hackney, Haringey and Islington (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[31] | Changes to the
| Report No. 663: Hackney July 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Haringey and Islington (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[32] | Changes to the Haringey/Islington (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 638: Islington April 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Heathrow Airport (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[33] | Changes to the
Some alignment to theM25 motorway andHeathrow Airport brought entirely within Greater London † | Report No. 665: Heathrow July 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[34] | Changes to the Kensington and Chelsea/Westminster (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 666: Westminster August 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Lambeth, Merton and Wandsworth (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[35] | Changes to the
| Report No. 669: Wandsworth August 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Lewisham and Southwark (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[36] | Changes to the Lewisham/Southwark (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 637: Southwark April 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The North and Central London (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[37] | Changes to the
| Report No. 651: Brent May 1992 Report No. 687: Brent (Electoral Consequentials) October 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The North London Boroughs (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[38] | Changes to the
| |
| 1 April 1995 | The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1994[39] | Changes to the
Giving Greater London and Berkshire a new common boundary | Report No. 558: Berkshire August 1988 |
| 1 April 1995 | The Croydon, Merton and Sutton (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[40] | Changes to the
| |
| 1 April 1995 | The Essex and Greater London (County Boundaries) Order 1993[41] | Changes to the Redbridge (Greater London)/Epping Forest (Essex) boundary Transfer of area aroundGrange Hill tube station to Greater London | Report No. 648: Redbridge May 1992 |
| 1 April 1995 | The Greater London and Surrey (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1994[42] | Changes to the
(Some changes to theMetropolitan Police District were later repealed)[43] | Report No. 667: Kingston August 1992 |
| 1 April 1995 | The Redbridge and Waltham Forest (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993[44] | Changes to the Redbridge/Waltham Forest (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 648: Redbridge May 1992 |
| 1 April 1996 | The Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham (London Borough Boundaries) Order 1995[45] | Changes to the Kensington and Chelsea/Hammersmith and Fulham (both Greater London) boundary | Report No. 675: Kensington and Chelsea September 1992 |
† = also altered the boundaries of theMetropolitan Police District
Other mandatory meviews of non-metropolitan counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs
The table below summarises the overall changes in area and population.
| Date | Area lost | Area gained | Net gain/loss | Pop. lost | Pop. gained | Net gain/loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1993 | 385 hectares (3.85 km2) | 85 hectares (0.85 km2) | −300 hectares (3.0 km2) | 1,678 | 463 | −1,215 |
| 1 April 1994 | 789.75 hectares (7.8975 km2) | 665.17 hectares (6.6517 km2) | −124.58 hectares (1.2458 km2) | 410 | 739 | +329 |
| 1 April 1995 | 21.05 hectares (0.2105 km2) | 93.5 hectares (0.935 km2) | +72.45 hectares (0.7245 km2) | 138 | 1,058 | +920 |
| Total: | 1,195.8 hectares (11.958 km2) | 843.67 hectares (8.4367 km2) | −352.13 hectares (3.5213 km2) | 2226 | 2260 | +34 |
TheLocal Government Boundary Commission for England (or LGBCE) was established by theLocal Government Act 1972 to review the electoral boundaries of every local authority in England. In 1973, there were early reviews of the electoral boundaries of Bexley and Kensington and Chelsea which needed minor boundaries redrawn in time for the1974 local elections. In 1974, they began the first full electoral review of all metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts, completing it in July 1980. Their reviews of the county councils were completed in 1984.[46]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGBCE Report |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1974 | The London Borough of Lewisham (Wards) Order 1973 | n/a (Renamed one existing ward) |
| 2 May 1974 | The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Wards) Order 1973 | Report No. 004: Kensington and Chelsea October 1973 |
| 2 May 1974 | The London Borough of Bexley (Wards) Order 1974 | Report No. 007: Bexley (Belvedere Ward) December 1973 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Barking (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 185: Barking February 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Barnet (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 248: Barnet August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Bexley (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 241: Bexley August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Brent (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 226: Brent July 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Bromley (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 258: Bromley October 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Camden (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 230: Camden August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Croydon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 211: Croydon May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Ealing (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 209: Ealing May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Greenwich (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 234: Greenwich August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Hackney (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 223: Hackney July 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Hammersmith (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 210: Hammersmith and Fulham May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Haringey (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 254: Haringey September 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Havering (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 214: Havering May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Hillingdon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 217: Hillingdon June 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Hounslow (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 193: Hounslow April 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Islington (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 219: Islington June 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 207: Kensington and Chelsea May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 216: Kingston-upon-Thames May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Lambeth (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 257: Lambeth October 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Lewisham (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 203: Lewisham April 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Merton (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 247: Merton August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Newham (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 192: Newham April 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Redbridge (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 213: Redbridge May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 212: Richmond-upon-Thames May 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Southwark (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 205: Southwark April 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Sutton (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 194: Sutton March 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Waltham Forest (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 235: Waltham Forest August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Wandsworth (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977 | Report No. 249: Wandsworth September 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Harrow (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978 | Report No. 256: Harrow October 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978 | Report No. 244: Tower Hamlets August 1977 |
| 4 May 1978 | The City of Westminster (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978 | Report No. 225: Westminster July 1977 |
| 6 May 1982 | The London Borough of Enfield (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 255: Enfield September 1977 Report No. 285: Enfield Judgement February 1978 |
| The Inner London Education Area (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1988[47] | Report No. 533: ILEA (Electoral Arrangements) March 1987 |
TheLocal Government Act 1992 established theLocal Government Commission for England (or LGCE) as the successor to the LGBCE. In 1996, they began the second full electoral review of English local authorities. After the1998 Greater London Authority referendum held on 7 May 1998 resulted in a yes vote, the LGCE drew the electoral boundaries for the newGreater London Authority andLondon Assembly. On 1 April 2002 theBoundary Committee for England (or BCfE) took over the functions of the LGBCE and carried on the review, completing it in 2004.
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2000 | Greater London Authority Act 1999[48] | Draft report August 1998Final report November 1998 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[49] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Barnet (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[50] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Bexley (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[51] | Draft report 2 March 1999Final report 27 July 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Brent (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[52] | Draft report 3 August 1999Final report 5 January 2000 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Bromley (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[53] | Draft report 29 June 1999Final report 30 November 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Camden (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[54] | Draft report 29 June 1999Final report 30 November 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Croydon (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[55] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Ealing (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[56] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Enfield (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[57] | Draft report 3 August 1999Final report 5 January 2000 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Greenwich (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[58] | Draft report 3 August 1999Final report 5 January 2000 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Hackney (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[59] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[60] | Draft report 3 August 1999Final report 5 January 2000 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Haringey (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[61] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Harrow (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[62] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Havering (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[63] | Draft report 2 March 1999Final report 27 July 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Hillingdon (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[64] | Draft report 29 June 1999Final report 30 November 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Hounslow (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[65] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Islington (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[66] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[67] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[68] | Draft report 29 June 1999Final report 30 November 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Lambeth (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[69] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Lewisham (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[70] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Merton (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[71] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Newham (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[72] | Draft report 29 June 1999Final report 30 November 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Redbridge (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[73] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[74] | Draft report 2 March 1999Final report 27 July 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Southwark (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[75] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Sutton (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[76] | Draft report 29 June 1999Final report 5 January 2000 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[77] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Waltham Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[78] | Draft report 26 January 1999Final report 22 June 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The London Borough of Wandsworth (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[79] | Draft report 2 March 1999Final report 27 July 1999 |
| 2 May 2002 | The City of Westminster (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[80] | Draft report 23 March 1999Final report 7 September 1999 |
TheLocal Government Boundary Commission for England (or LGBCE) was established by theLocal Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 on 1 April 2010 as the successor to the BCfE. It continues to review the electoral arrangements of English local authorities on an ‘as and when’ basis.
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGBCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2014 | The Hackney (Electoral Changes) Order 2013[81] | |
| 22 May 2014 | The Tower Hamlets (Electoral Changes) Order 2013[82] | |
| 22 May 2014 | The Kensington and Chelsea (Electoral Changes) Order 2014[83] | |
| 3 May 2018 | The Croydon (Electoral Changes) Order 2017[84] | Draft report 14 March 2017Final report 4 July 2017 |
In 2004, following a poll, a move was mooted by theLondon Assembly to entirely align the Greater London boundary to the M25 motorway.[85] In 2005, then Mayor of London,Ken Livingstone, suggested that the neighbouring areas ofDartford,Thurrock andWatford could be given the opportunity to vote on joining Greater London in localreferendums.[86] When asked about a possible expansion to includeEpsom inSurrey, Livingstone said he would be "happy to take large chunks of Surrey as well".[87] In 2007, Livingstone said that there was "a real case for London's boundary being extended along the Thames estuary, [...] they're all Londoners anyhow, no more than a generation removed".[88] He said that the absorption of Dartford and Thurrock in theThames Gateway would support the regeneration of these areas and provide benefits to their residents, such as Greater London's free bus travel for under-18s. He held meetings with government ministers to discuss the proposal, but no referendums would ever be held.[89]
In 2010, it was reported that an extension of the boundary to includeElmbridge was being considered by Livingstone's successorBoris Johnson. A spokesperson for Johnson said that there were no plans to expand the boundary into Elmbridge or other areas.[90] In 2015, it was proposed that a new borough be created byreclaiming land to form anarchipelago in the River Thames to deal with thehousing crisis in the city.[91]
Slough Borough Council proposed joining Greater London amidreforms to local government and devolution in February 2025.[92]Sadiq Khan indicated he was open to such an endeavour the following month.[93] In June 2025, the former Slough mayor Mewa S. Mann called for the proposal to go ahead, and discussed possible economic benefits.[94] In August 2025, Slough'sLabour MPTan Dhesi said he was discussing the proposal with local stakeholders in London and Berkshire and pushing for a consultation on the move, stating that he was "seriously" considering the matter and pointing to the borough's close cultural links with London.[95]
Several proposals have been made for Greater London's boundaries to revert to London's pre-1965 borders. Supporters of this idea argue that Greater London is too big, with the outer London boroughs remaining culturally, geographically and ethnically distinct from inner London and maintaining closer links to their historic counties than London.[96][97][98] Local opponents of Greater London policies like theUltra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) also feel that their concerns are ignored by the Greater London Authority, which they see as dominated by inner London. It is argued that by re-joining their former counties, the outer boroughs may see benefits such as stronger civic pride and a greater sense of belonging, as well as a greater say and influence in local governance.[97][96]
In 2023, residents in the London boroughs ofBromley andBexley organised a petition for their boroughs to leave Greater London and re-join Kent, in response to the expansion of the ULEZ to London's outer boroughs.[99][100] The petition was organised after the residents said they felt the Greater London Authority was "ignoring the community of the outer boroughs", with the organisers arguing that it would be better for Bromley and Bexley to re-join Kent because of a lack of transport connections to the rest of the capital.[99]
In 2017,Havering London Borough Council voted on a motion for the borough to negotiate with the Greater London Authority to leave Greater London, become an independentunitary authority and possibly re-join Essex, a proposal known as "Hexit".[101][102] Supporters argued that the residents ofHavering felt a stronger affinity to its historic county of Essex rather than London, and that such a move would enable the borough to "take back control" from Greater London and make its own independent decisions on issues such as planning.[103] The motion was voted down by the council, but the idea regained traction with the expansion of the ULEZ in 2023 and thechanges to local government from 2024.[104][105] Local newspaperThe Havering Daily ran a poll in May 2025 which purported to show that 68% of over 1,500 residents from the borough supported such a move.[106][102]Andrew Rosindell, theConservative MP forRomford, launched a campaign for Havering to leave Greater London and join the newGreater Essex Combined County Authority in 2025.[107]James McMurdock, theReform UK MP for the Essex constituency ofSouth Basildon and East Thurrock, endorsed the proposal.[108]