West Essex Council is a planned English unitary authority for the new local government district of West Essex. The council will be a constituent member of the Greater Essex Combined Authority.
As part of the Starmer ministry local government reform, a goal of "simpler local government structures" was set out by the government, including a commitment to phase out two-tier local government structures. West Essex Council was announced in March 2026 as the replacement for Epping Forest District Council, Harlow District Council and Uttlesford District Council and Essex County Council in Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford, an area that will form the West Essex local government district.
The 2027 West Essex Council election is set to take place in May 2027, with the authority taking over local government responsibilities on 1 April 2028. The council will be a constituent member of the Greater Essex Combined Authority, which is also being established ahead of the 2028 Greater Essex mayoral election.