The 7 May 2026 local elections delivered one of the most fragmented political landscapes in recent memory, with significant consequences for businesses operating across England, London and the devolved nations. Understanding what these changes mean for local decision-making, planning, and engagement is of crucial importance for businesses.
What The 2026 Local Election Results Mean For Local Government
Reform UK and the Greens made significant inroads, gaining an additional 1451 and 441 English councillors respectively.[1] This splintering of the vote has led to the winner of wards being decided by the narrowest of margins, as well as 64 councils being under no overall control (an increase of 23) as parties fail to establish a majority.
Key Dates For Businesses To Watch
- Elections 7 May 2026
- Election results: 8–9 May 2026
- Local Borough AGMs: 13–28 May 2026
- Parliamentary recess: 16 July – 1 September 2026
Local decision-making on planning, infrastructure and procurement may be delayed as newly formed councils contest leadership, establish committees and navigate funding arrangements.
Mayors Vs Local Governance
Where the controlling party of a local authority has changed or moved to no overall control, the priorities of new borough leaders and regional mayors may diverge sharply. One example can be seen in Housing, as the Mayor of London and Housing Secretary recently introduced a fast-track planning route for sites delivering at least 20 per cent affordable housing.[2] The Green Party, now controlling or influencing several London boroughs, pledged to ensure a minimum of 50 per cent of new housing is ‘social’, meaning it is owned by the council or housing association with rents typically less than half of the market rate.[3] This divergence increases the possibility of Mayoral and GLA intervention, particularly on planning and infrastructure decisions.
What Political Fragmentation Means for Engagement and Planning Decisions
Slower decision-making is the immediate risk for businesses operating in No Overall Control (NOC) boroughs. Cross-party engagement will become essential where no single group holds a majority. This is in addition to the fact that many councils will be made up of candidates with limited to no Local Government experience.
In the medium term, it should be remembered that around half of the councils that held elections are the subject of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR),[4] and with the passing of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, the councillors will be charged with negotiating newly devolved roles and the future shape of a reorganised local system. This comes alongside the pre-election promise from Reform to instruct legal action if elected to stop some of the planned local energy projects,[5] as well as indicating it wants to try to stop aspects of LGR.[6] If the courts get involved, the timetable may well be delayed.
Businesses should also be aware that local manifesto commitments may come into conflict with governing realities, such as Reform UK’s stated opposition to certain developments (asylum seeker accommodation). Councils rejecting developments without valid planning grounds face costly appeals and judicial review. It may be in businesses interest to engage early with new local authorities in order to understand their intentions for planning, business rates relief, and other associated devolved functions.
How To Navigate Local Government Change: Early Engagement Is Key
For businesses with local authority contracts, planning applications, or funding arrangements, early engagement with newly formed councils is strongly advisable. Understanding a new administration’s intentions on planning policy, business rates relief and local procurement before decisions are made is far more effective than responding after the fact.
At Brevia, we work at the intersection of policy, politics and public affairs. We help organisations navigate complex, multi-stakeholder political environments, building government relationships, shaping the public narrative, and ensuring our clients are heard at the moments that matter most.
Discover how Brevia can help you and your organisation by contacting the Brevia Team on 020 7091 1650 or contact@brevia.co.uk
BREVIA CONSULTING PROVIDES STRAIGHTFORWARD POLITICAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANISATIONS
[1] BBC News, England Local Election Results 2026, 9 May 2026, link
[2] Gov.UK, Emergency action to kickstart London housebuilding, 25 March 2026, link
[3] The Times, Zack Polanski attempts to woo Labour voters with rent controls, 8 April 2026, link
[4] Local Government Association, Devolution and local government reorganisation FAQs and glossary, 11 May 2026, link
[5] BBC News, Reform declares war on county’s net-zero projects, 30 July 2026, link
[6] BBC News, Farage ‘will fight’ Essex council reorganisation, 20 March 2026, link
