List of boundary changes in North East England
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This is a list of internal boundary changes to the 1993-created North East England, from before the region with the Local Government Act 1972 to present day.
Administrative boundaries
Initial creation
When the Local Government Act 1972 was passed there were still some details left to be decided, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's first work was to clarify these details.
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGBCE Report |
|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1973 | The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972[1] | Report No. 001: Recommendations for new Districts in the non-Metropolitan Counties November 1972 |
| 5 March 1973 | The Divided Areas (Boundaries) Order 1973 | n/a |
| 1 May 1973 | The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973[2] | Report No. 002: Names of Non-Metropolitan Districts March 1973 |
| 1 April 1973 | The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973[3] | n/a |
Principal Area Boundary Reviews
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (or LGBCE) was established by the Local 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.[4]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | Effect | LGBCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1976 | The Darlington and Sedgefield (Areas) Order 1976 | Changes to the Darlington/Sedgefield (both Durham) boundary | Report No. 9: Aycliffe New Town (Darlington/Sedgefield) November 1974 |
| 1 April 1983 | The Cleveland and Durham (Areas) Order 1982 | Changes to the Sedgefield (Durham)/Stockton-on-Tees (Cleveland) boundary | Report No. 416: Sedgefield/Stockton-on-Tees July 1981 |
| 1 April 1985 | The Durham and Easington (Areas) Order 1985 | Changes to the Durham/Easington (both Durham) boundary | Report No. 459: Easington/Durham November 1983 |
| 1 April 1986 | The Castle Morpeth and Tynedale (District Boundaries) Order 1985 | Changes to the Castle Morpeth/Tynedale (both Northumberland) boundary | Report No. 491: Castle Morpeth/Tynedale January 1985 |
| 1 April 1986 | The Durham (District Boundaries) Order 1986 | Changes to the
|
Report No. 475: Durham/Sedgefield July 1984 Report No. 499: Chester-le-Street/Durham June 1985 |
Mandatory Reviews of non-Metropolitan Counties, Metropolitan Districts and London Boroughs
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.[5]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | Effect | LGBCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1989 | The Cleveland and Durham (County Boundaries) Order 1988[6] | Changes to the Sedgefield (Durham)/Stockton-on-Tees (Cleveland) boundary | Report No. 551: Cleveland May 1988 |
| 1 April 1990 | The Cumbria, Northumberland and North Yorkshire (County Boundaries) Order 1989[7] | Changes to the
|
Report No. 557: Cumbria July 1988 |
| 1 April 1991 | The Durham and North Yorkshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991[8] | Changes to the
|
Report No. 569: North Yorkshire December 1988 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Durham and Tyne and Wear (County and District Boundaries) Order 1992[9] The Durham and Tyne and Wear (County and District Boundaries) (Variation) Order 1993[10] | Changes to the
|
Report No. 643: South Tyneside June 1992 Report No. 646: Sunderland June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear (County and District Boundaries) Order 1992[11] | Changes to the
|
Report No. 640: Gateshead June 1992 Report No. 645: Newcastle June 1992 |
| 1 April 1994 | The Northumberland and Tyne and Wear (County and District Boundaries) Order 1992[12] | Changes to the
|
Report No. 644: North Tyneside June 1992 |
Other mandatory meviews of non-metropolitan counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs
- Report No. 553: Northumberland July 1988
- Report No. 607: North Yorkshire (Further Review) August 1991
Electoral boundaries
Initial creation
When the Local Government Act 1972 was passed there was not sufficient time to draw up proper electoral boundaries for the new county and district councils, so a temporary system was quickly put in place, intended to only be used for the first elections in 1973.
| Date | Statutory Instrument |
|---|---|
| 7 June 1973 | The County of Cleveland (District Wards) Order 1973 |
| 12 April 1973 | The County of Cleveland (Electoral Divisions) Order 1973 |
| 7 June 1973 | The County of Durham (District Wards) Order 1973 |
| 12 April 1973 | The County of Durham (Electoral Divisions) Order 1973 |
| 12 April 1973 | The County of Northumberland (Electoral Divisions) Order 1973 |
First periodic review
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (or LGBCE) was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review the electoral boundaries of every local authority in England. 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.[13]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGBCE Report |
|---|---|---|
| 6 May 1976 | The Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975[14] | Report No. 072: Berwick-upon-Tweed October 1975 |
| 6 May 1976 | The Borough of Castle Morpeth (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975 | Report No. 015: Castle Morpeth March 1975 |
| 6 May 1976 | The Borough of Hartlepool (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975[15] | Report No. 042: Hartlepool September 1975 |
| 6 May 1976 | The Borough of Langbaurgh (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975[16] | Report No. 043: Langbaurgh September 1975 |
| 6 May 1976 | The District of Wansbeck (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975[17] | Report No. 078: Wansbeck October 1975 |
| 3 May 1979 | The Borough of Blyth Valley (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 | Report No. 091: Blyth Valley October 1975 |
| 3 May 1979 | The Borough of Darlington (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 | Report No. 136: Darlington February 1976 |
| 3 May 1979 | The Borough of Middlesbrough (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 | Report No. 087: Middlesbrough November 1975 |
| 3 May 1979 | The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 | Report No. 097: Stockton-on-Tees November 1975 |
| 3 May 1979 | The District of Alnwick (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 | Report No. 090: Alnwick October 1975 |
| 3 May 1979 | The District of Chester-le-Street (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976 | Report No. 157: Chester-le-Street August 1976 |
| 6 May 1976 | The District of Tynedale (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976[18] | Report No. 077: Tynedale October 1975 |
| 3 May 1979 | The City of Durham (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978 | Report No. 227: City of Durham July 1977 |
| 3 May 1979 | The District of Derwentside (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978[19] | Report No. 162: Derwentside August 1976 |
| 3 May 1979 | The District of Easington (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978[20] | Report No. 299: Easington October 1978 |
| 5 May 1983 | The District of Sedgefield (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 | Report No. 276: Sedgefield February 1978 |
| 5 May 1983 | The District of Teesdale (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979[21] | Report No. 311: Teesdale December 1978 |
| 5 May 1983 | The District of Wear Valley (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 | Report No. 176: Wear Valley November 1976 |
| 6 May 1982 | The Borough of Gateshead (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 358: Gateshead October 1979 |
| 6 May 1982 | The Borough of North Tyneside (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 350: North Tyneside October 1979 |
| 6 May 1982 | The Borough of South Tyneside (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 355: South Tyneside October 1979 |
| 6 May 1982 | The Borough of Sunderland (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 359: Sunderland October 1979 |
| 6 May 1982 | The City of Newcastle upon Tyne (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 357: Newcastle-upon-Tyne October 1979 |
| 7 May 1981 | The County of Northumberland (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 | Report No. 370: Northumberland January 1980 |
| 7 May 1981 | The County of Durham (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981 | Report No. 406: Durham December 1980 |
| 2 May 1985 | The County of Cleveland (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1985 | Report No. 479: Cleveland September 1984 |
Further electoral reviews by the LGBCE
Local authorities could request a further review if they felt that there were changes in circumstances since the initial review. The LGBCE would only approve this if they felt it was appropriate because of major changes in the size or distribution of the electorate.[22]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGBCE Report |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1991 | The Borough of Blyth Valley (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1988[23] | Report No. 527: Blyth Valley December 1986 |
| 2 May 1991 | The Borough of Langbaurgh (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1991[24] | Report No. 595: Langbaurgh December 1990 |
Second periodic review
The Local Government Act 1992 established the Local 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. On 1 April 2002 the Boundary Committee for England (or BCfE) took over the functions of the LGBCE and carried on the review, completing it in 2004.[25][26]
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGCE/BCfE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 May 1999 | The Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed (Electoral Changes) Order 1998[27] | Draft report October 1996 Final report 25 March 1997 |
| 6 May 1999 | The Borough of Blyth Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 1998[28] | Draft report October 1996 Final report 25 March 1997 |
| 6 May 1999 | The Borough of Castle Morpeth (Electoral Changes) Order 1998[29] | Draft report October 1996 Final report 25 March 1997 |
| 6 May 1999 | The District of Alnwick (Electoral Changes) Order 1998[30] | Draft report October 1996 Final report 25 March 1997 |
| 6 May 1999 | The District of Tynedale (Electoral Changes) Order 1998[31] | Draft report October 1996 Final report 25 March 1997 |
| 6 May 1999 | The District of Wansbeck (Electoral Changes) Order 1998[32] | Draft report October 1996 Final report 25 March 1997 |
| 1 May 2003 | The Borough of Sedgefield (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[33] | Draft report June 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 1 May 2003 | The City of Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[34] | Draft report June 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 1 May 2003 | The District of Chester-le-Street (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[35] | Draft report June 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 1 May 2003 | The District of Derwentside (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[36] | Draft report April 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 1 May 2003 | The District of Easington (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[37] | Draft report April 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 1 May 2003 | The District of Teesdale (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[38] | Draft report June 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 1 May 2003 | The District of Wear Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 1999[39] | Draft report June 1998 Final report October 1998 |
| 7 June 2001 | The County of Northumberland (Electoral Changes) Order 2000[40] | Draft report 11 May 1999 Final report 2 November 1999 |
| 1 May 2003 | The Borough of Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2001[41] | Draft report 12 December 2000 Final report 15 May 2001 |
| 10 June 2004 | The Borough of Hartlepool (Electoral Changes) Order 2003[42] | Draft report 14 May 2002 Final report 21 January 2003 |
| 1 May 2003 | The Borough of Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2003[43] | Draft report 14 May 2002 Final report 15 October 2002 |
| 1 May 2003 | The Borough of Redcar and Cleveland (Electoral Changes) Order 2003[44] | Draft report 14 May 2002 Final report 15 October 2002 |
| 5 May 2005 | The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees (Electoral Changes) Order 2003[45] The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2005[46] | Draft report 14 May 2002 Final report 18 March 2003 |
| 10 June 2004 | The Borough of Gateshead (Electoral Changes) Order 2004[47] | Draft report 25 February 2003 Final report 21 October 2003 |
| 10 June 2004 | The Borough of North Tyneside (Electoral Changes) Order 2004[48] | Draft report 25 February 2003 Final report 21 October 2003 |
| 10 June 2004 | The Borough of South Tyneside (Electoral Changes) Order 2004[49] | Draft report 25 February 2003 Final report 21 October 2003 |
| 10 June 2004 | The City of Newcastle upon Tyne (Electoral Changes) Order 2004[50] | Draft report 25 February 2003 Final report 21 October 2003 |
| 10 June 2004 | The City of Sunderland (Electoral Changes) Order 2004[51] | Draft report 25 February 2003 Final report 21 October 2003 |
| 5 May 2005 | The County of Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2005[52] | Draft report 22 February 2000 Final report 22 August 2000 |
Further electoral reviews by the BCfE
| Date | Statutory Instrument | BCfE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 May 2007 | The Borough of Castle Morpeth (Electoral Changes) Order 2007[53] | Draft report January 2006 Final report August 2006 |
| 3 May 2007 | The District of Wansbeck (Electoral Changes) Order 2007[54] | Draft report January 2006 Final report August 2006 |
Further electoral reviews by the LGBCE
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (or LGBCE) was established by the Local 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 May 2012 | The Hartlepool (Electoral Changes) Order 2012[55] | Final report September 2011 |
| 2 May 2013 | The Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2012[56] | Final report November 2011 |
| 2 May 2013 | The Northumberland (Electoral Changes) Order 2011[57] | Final report August 2010 |
| 7 May 2015 | The Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2014[58] | Final report August 2014 |
| 7 May 2015 | The Middlesbrough (Electoral Changes) Order 2014[59] | Final report November 2013 |
| 3 May 2018 | The Newcastle upon Tyne (Electoral Changes) Order 2017[60] | Final report November 2016 |
| 2 May 2019 | The Redcar and Cleveland (Electoral Changes) Order 2018[61] | Final report June 2018 |
| 6 May 2021 | The Hartlepool (Electoral Changes) Order 2019[62] | Final report February 2019 |
| 4 May 2023 | The Stockton-on-Tees (Electoral Changes) Order 2022[a][65] | Final report March 2022 |
| 2 May 2024 | The North Tyneside (Electoral Changes) Order 2024[66] | Final report October 2023 |
| 1 May 2025 | The Durham (Electoral Changes) Order 2024[67] | Final report November 2023 |
| 1 May 2025 | The Northumberland (Electoral Changes) Order 2024[68] | Final report October 2023 |
| 7 May 2026 | The Gateshead (Electoral Changes) Order 2024[69] | Final report July 2024 |
| 7 May 2026 | The Newcastle upon Tyne (Electoral Changes) Order 2025[70] | Final report January 2025 |
| 7 May 2026 | The South Tyneside (Electoral Changes) Order 2025[71] | Final report December 2024 |
| 7 May 2026 | The Sunderland (Electoral Changes) Order 2025[72] | Final report July 2024 |
Changes resulting from parish council boundary changes
These orders were made to subsequent to changes to civil parish boundaries.
| Date | Statutory Instrument | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2008 | The Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed (Parish Electoral Arrangements and Electoral Changes) Order 2008[73] | Transfer of areas from Horncliffe and Norham to the new parish of Berwick-upon-Tweed These boundaries were never used due to structural changes in Northumberland |
| 6 May 2021 | The Northumberland (Electoral Changes) Order 2020[74] | Transfer of areas between Blyth and Seaton Valley |
| 6 May 2021 | The Northumberland (Electoral Changes) Order 2021[75] | Transfer of areas between Ashington and Pegswood |
Structural changes
| Date | Statutory Instrument | LGCE Report(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1996 | The Cleveland (Structural Change) Order 1995[76] | Draft report May 1993 Final report November 1993 |
| 1 April 1997 | The Durham (Borough of Darlington) (Structural Change) Order 1995[77] | Draft report July 1994 Final report December 1994 |
| 1 April 2009 | The County Durham (Structural Change) Order 2008[78] | |
| 1 April 2009 | The Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008[79] |
Other structural reviews
- Northumberland - Draft report July 1994 Final report December 1994
- A report on the 1992-1995 Structural Review May 1995
- Overview report of 21 Districts in England September 1995