List of boundary changes in North West England


This is a list of boundary changes occurring in the North West England region of England, since the re-organisation of local government following the passing of the Local Government Act 1972.

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.
DateStatutory InstrumentLGBCE Report
1 February 1973The English Non-Metropolitan Districts Order 1972Report No. 001: Recommendations for new Districts in the non-Metropolitan Counties November 1972
5 March 1973The Divided Areas Order 1973n/a
1 May 1973The English Non-Metropolitan Districts Order 1973 March 1973
1 April 1973The Metropolitan Districts Order 1973n/a

Principal Area Boundary Reviews

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England 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.
DateStatutory InstrumentEffectLGBCE Report
1 April 1981The Manchester and Trafford Order 1980Changes to the Manchester/Trafford boundary October 1980
1 April 1982The Greater Manchester and Lancashire Order 1981Changes to the Wigan /West Lancashire boundary November 1980
1 April 1983The Macclesfield and Vale Royal Order 1982Changes to the Macclesfield/Vale Royal boundary August 1981
1 April 1984The Allerdale and Carlisle Order 1983Changes to the Allerdale/Carlisle boundary February 1982
1 April 1987The Lancashire Order 1986Changes to the boundaries of
  • Burnley
  • Chorley
  • Hyndburn
  • Pendle
  • Ribble Valley
  • South Ribble
June 1983Report No. 481: South Ribble/Ribble Valley August 1984
July 1985
October 1985
1 April 1988The Cheshire Order 1988Changes to the Chester/Vale Royal boundary November 1986

Other principal area boundary reviews
  • November 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.
DateStatutory InstrumentEffectLGBCE Report
1 April 1989The Cumbria and Lancashire Order 1988Changes to the Lancaster /South Lakeland boundary June 1988
1 April 1990The Cumbria, Northumberland and North Yorkshire Order 1989Changes to the
  • Carlisle /Tynedale boundary
  • Eden /Richmondshire boundary
 July 1988
1 April 1992The Bolton, Bury and Salford Order 1991Changes to the
  • Bolton/Bury boundary
  • Bolton/Salford boundary
    		•  May 1990 July 1990
    1 April 1991The Cheshire, Derbyshire, Hereford and Worcester and Staffordshire Order 1991Changes to the
    • Congleton /Newcastle-under-Lyme boundary
    • Wyre Forest /South Staffordshire boundary
    • High Peak /Staffordshire Moorlands boundary
    • Derbyshire Dales /Staffordshire Moorlands boundary
    • Derbyshire Dales /East Staffordshire boundary
    • South Derbyshire /East Staffordshire boundary
    • South Derbyshire /South Staffordshire boundary
    • South Derbyshire /Lichfield boundary
    		 February 1990
    1 April 1992The Derbyshire and Greater Manchester Order 1991Changes to the High Peak /Tameside boundary August 1990
    1 April 1993The Cheshire and Greater Manchester Order 1992Changes to the
  • Macclesfield /Trafford boundary
  • Warrington /Trafford boundary
  • Manchester/Trafford boundary
    		•  July 1991
    1 April 1993The Cheshire and Greater Manchester Order 1992Changes to the
  • Macclesfield /Manchester boundary
  • Manchester/Salford boundary
  • Manchester/Stockport boundary
  • Manchester/Tameside boundary
    		•  January 1992
    1 April 1993The Cheshire and Merseyside Order 1992Changes to the Ellesmere Port /Wirral boundary November 1991
    1 April 1992The Cheshire, Derbyshire, Hereford and Worcester and Staffordshire Order 1992n/an/a
    1 April 1993The Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Order 1992Changes to the
  • Oldham /Kirklees boundary
  • Oldham/Rochdale boundary
  • Oldham/Manchester boundary
  • Oldham/Tameside boundary
    		•  October 1991
    1 April 1994The Bolton and Salford Order 1993Changes to the Bolton/Salford boundary April 1992
    1 April 1994The Cheshire and Merseyside Order 1993Changes to the
  • Liverpool /Halton boundary
  • Liverpool/Sefton boundary
    		•  September 1992
    1 April 1994The Cheshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester Order 1993Changes to the
  • Macclesfield /Stockport boundary
  • High Peak /Stockport boundary
  • Stockport/Tameside boundary
    		•  November 1991
    1 April 1994The Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside Order 1993Changes to the
  • Warrington /Wigan boundary
  • Wigan /West Lancashire boundary
  • Wigan /St Helens boundary
  • Bolton/Wigan boundary
  • Salford/Wigan boundary
  • West Lancashire/Chorley boundary
    		•  June 1992
    1 April 1994The Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside Order 1993Changes to the
  • Halton /Knowsley boundary
  • Knowsley /West Lancashire boundary
  • Sefton /West Lancashire boundary
  • Knowsley/Sefton boundary
  • Knowsley/St Helens boundary
  • Knowsley/Liverpool boundary
    		•  July 1992
    1 April 1994The Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside Order 1993Changes to the
  • Warrington /St Helens boundary
  • Halton /St Helens boundary
  • West Lancashire /St Helens boundary
    		•  February 1992
    1 April 1994The Greater Manchester and Lancashire Order 1993Changes to the
  • Blackburn /Bury boundary
  • Rossendale /Bury boundary
  • Bury/Manchester boundary
  • Bury/Salford boundary
    		•  June 1992
    1 April 1994The Greater Manchester and Lancashire Order 1993Changes to the
  • Rochdale /Rossendale boundary
  • Bury/Rochdale boundary
    		•  January 1990
    1 April 1994The Lancashire and Merseyside Order 1993Changes to the West Lancashire /Sefton boundaryReport No. 664: Sefton July 1992
    Other mandatory meviews of non-metropolitan counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs
    • August 1988

    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.
    DateStatutory Instrument
    7 June 1973The County of Cheshire Order 1973
    12 April 1973The County of Cheshire Order 1973
    7 June 1973The County of Cumbria Order 1973
    12 April 1973The County of Cumbria Order 1973
    12 April 1973
    & 10 May 1973    		The County of Greater Manchester Order 1973
    7 June 1973The County of Lancashire Order 1973
    12 April 1973The County of Lancashire Order 1973
    12 April 1973
    & 10 May 1973    		The County of Merseyside Order 1973

    First periodic review

    The Local Government Boundary Commission for England 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.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGBCE Report
    6 May 1976The Borough of Blackpool Order 1975 August 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Chorley Order 1975 September 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Congleton Order 1975 August 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Fylde Order 1975 August 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Preston Order 1975Report No. 022: Preston June 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of South Ribble Order 1975 July 1975
    6 May 1976The District of Pendle Order 1975 July 1975
    3 May 1979The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness Order 1976 November 1975
    3 May 1979The Borough of Blackburn Order 1976 February 1976
    6 May 1976The Borough of Burnley Order 1976Report No. 092: Burnley October 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Ellesmere Port Order 1976 November 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Halton Order 1976 November 1975
    3 May 1979The Borough of Hyndburn Order 1976 October 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Ribble Valley Order 1976 October 1975
    6 May 1976The Borough of Rossendale Order 1976 November 1975
    3 May 1979The Borough of Wyre Order 1976 October 1975
    3 May 1979The District of Eden Order 1976 December 1975
    6 May 1976The District of Vale Royal Order 1976Report No. 099: Vale Royal November 1975
    6 May 1976The District of West Lancashire Order 1976Report No. 102: West Lancashire October 1975
    3 May 1979The Borough of Crewe and Nantwich Order 1977 April 1976
    3 May 1979The City of Lancaster Order 1977 September 1975
    3 May 1979The Borough of Bury Order 1978 January 1978
    3 May 1979The Borough of Copeland Order 1978 January 1978
    3 May 1979The Borough of Macclesfield Order 1978 November 1977
    3 May 1979The Borough of Oldham Order 1978 July 1977
    3 May 1979The Borough of Sefton Order 1978 August 1977
    3 May 1979The Borough of Warrington Order 1978 June 1976
    3 May 1979The City of Chester Order 1978 August 1977
    3 May 1979The District of Allerdale Order 1978 January 1978
    3 May 1979The District of South Lakeland Order 1978 August 1978
    1 May 1980The Borough of Bolton Order 1979 September 1978
    1 May 1980The Borough of Rochdale Order 1979 April 1979
    1 May 1980The Borough of St Helens Order 1979 April 1979
    1 May 1980The Borough of Stockport Order 1979 January 1979
    1 May 1980The Borough of Tameside Order 1979 July 1977
    1 May 1980The Borough of Trafford Order 1979 October 1978
    1 May 1980The Borough of Wigan Order 1979 March 1979
    1 May 1980The Borough of Wirral Order 1979 April 1979
    5 May 1983The City of Carlisle Order 1979 January 1978
    1 May 1980The City of Liverpool Order 1979 January 1979
    6 May 1982The Borough of Knowsley Order 1980 March 1980
    6 May 1982The City of Salford Order 1980 August 1979
    7 May 1981The County of Cheshire Order 1980 August 1980
    6 May 1982The City of Manchester Order 1981 September 1977
    August 1980
    7 May 1981The County of Cumbria Order 1981 October 1980
    7 May 1981The County of Lancashire Order 1981 November 1980
    1 October 1985The County of Greater Manchester Order 1985 September 1984
    1 November 1985The County of Merseyside Order 1985 December 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.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGBCE Report
    8 May 1986The Borough of Halton Order 1986 October 1985
    7 May 1987The Borough of South Ribble Order 1987 December 1986
    3 May 1990The Borough of Preston Order 1989Report No. 567: Preston October 1988
    2 May 1991The Borough of Warrington Order 1989 December 1986
    2 May 1991The Borough of Burnley Order 1990Report No. 588: Burnley May 1990

    Second periodic review

    The Local Government Act 1992 established the Local Government Commission for England 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 took over the functions of the LGBCE and carried on the review, completing it in 2004.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGCE/BCfE Report
    1 May 1997The Borough of Blackburn Order 1997 September 1996 6 December 1996
    1 May 1997The Borough of Blackpool Order 1997 3 September 1996 6 December 1996
    1 May 1997The Borough of Halton Order 1997 3 September 1996 6 December 1996
    1 May 1997The Borough of Warrington Order 1997 3 September 1996 6 December 1996
    6 May 1999The Borough of Allerdale Order 1998 28 May 1997 4 November 1997
    6 May 1999The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness Order 1998 28 May 1997 4 November 1997
    6 May 1999The Borough of Congleton Order 1998 2 December 1997 31 March 1998
    6 May 1999The Borough of Copeland Order 1998 10 June 1997 4 November 1997
    6 May 1999The Borough of Crewe and Nantwich Order 1998 3 February 1998 2 June 1998
    6 May 1999The Borough of Ellesmere Port and Neston Order 1998 4 November 1997 31 March 1998
    6 May 1999The Borough of Macclesfield Order 1998 4 November 1997 31 March 1998
    6 May 1999The Borough of Vale Royal Order 1998 4 November 1997 31 March 1998
    6 May 1999The City of Carlisle Order 1998 28 May 1997 4 November 1997
    6 May 1999The City of Chester Order 1998 December 1997 31 March 1998
    6 May 1999The District of Eden Order 1998 10 June 1997 4 November 1997
    6 May 1999The District of South Lakeland Order 1998 10 June 1997 4 November 1997
    4 May 2000The Borough of Sefton Order 1999 1 July 1997 25 November 1997
    7 June 2001The County of Cheshire Order 2000 July 1999 January 2000
    7 June 2001The County of Cumbria Order 2000
    The County of Cumbria Order 2001    		Draft report 29 June 1999 November 1999
    2 May 2002The Borough of Burnley Order 2001
    The Borough of Burnley Order 2002    		 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    2 May 2002The Borough of Chorley Order 2001 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    1 May 2003The Borough of Fylde Order 2001 4 April 2000 5 September 2000
    2 May 2002The Borough of Hyndburn Order 2001 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    2 May 2002The Borough of Pendle Order 2001 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    2 May 2002The Borough of Preston Order 2001 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    1 May 2003The Borough of Ribble Valley Order 2001 4 April 2000 5 September 2000
    2 May 2002The Borough of Rossendale Order 2001 5 February 2000 5 September 2000
    1 May 2003The Borough of South Ribble Order 2001
    The Borough of South Ribble Order 2002    		 4 April 2000 5 September 2000
    1 May 2003The Borough of Wyre Order 2001 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    1 May 2003The City of Lancaster Order 2001 4 April 2000 5 September 2000
    2 May 2002The District of West Lancashire Order 2001 15 February 2000 5 September 2000
    10 June 2004The Borough of Blackburn with Darwen Order 2002 15 January 2002 6 June 2002
    1 May 2003The Borough of Blackpool Order 2002 9 October 2001 3 April 2002
    10 June 2004The Borough of Halton Order 2002 May 2001 November 2001
    10 June 2004The Borough of Warrington Order 2002
    The Borough of Warrington Order 2003    		 8 May 2001 20 November 2001
    10 June 2004The Borough of Knowsley Order 2003 3 September 2002 25 March 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Sefton Order 2003 3 September 2002 25 March 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of St Helens Order 2003 3 September 2002 25 March 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Wirral Order 2003 3 September 2002 25 March 2003
    10 June 2004The City of Liverpool Order 2003 3 September 2002
    25 March 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Bolton Order 2004 25 February 2003 14 October 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Bury Order 2004 25 February 2003 30 September 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Oldham Order 2004
    The Borough of Oldham Order 2005    		 25 February 2003 27 August 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Rochdale Order 2004
    The Borough of Rochdale Order 2004    		 25 February 2003 27 August 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Stockport Order 2004 25 February 2003 30 September 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Tameside Order 2004 25 February 2003 27 August 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Trafford Order 2004 25 February 2003 14 October 2003
    10 June 2004The Borough of Wigan Order 2004
    The Borough of Wigan Order 2005    		 25 February 2003 30 September 2003
    10 June 2004The City of Manchester Order 2004 25 February 2003 30 September 2003
    10 June 2004The City of Salford Order 2004 25 February 2003 27 August 2003
    5 May 2005The County of Lancashire Order 2005 28 May 2003 2 June 2004
    12 October 2004

    Further electoral reviews by the BCfE

    DateStatutory InstrumentBCfE Report
    3 May 2007
    & 4 June 2009    		The Preston Order 2007
    3 May 2007
    & 4 June 2009    		The West Lancashire Order 2007
    1 May 2008The Borough of Barrow-in-Furness Order 2008 November 2006 August 2007
    1 May 2008The District of South Lakeland Order 2008 November 2006 August 2007

    Further electoral reviews by the LGBCE

    The Local Government Boundary Commission for England 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.
    DateStatutory InstrumentLGBCE Report
    5 May 2011The Cheshire East Order 2011 November 2009
    5 May 2011The Cheshire West and Chester Order 2011 November 2009
    2 May 2013The Cumbria Order 2012
    7 May 2015The Lancaster Order 2014
    7 May 2015The South Ribble Order 2014 March 2014
    7 May 2015The Wyre Order 2014
    5 May 2016The Knowsley Order 2015 June 2015
    5 May 2016The Warrington Order 2016 December 2015
    3 May 2018The Preston Order 2018 January 2018
    3 May 2018The Manchester Order 2017 April 2017
    7 May 2020The Salford Order 2019 March 2019
    5 May 2022The Rochdale Order 2021 May 2021
    5 May 2022The St Helens Order 2021 June 2021
    5 May 2022The Bury Order 2022 November 2021
    4 May 2023The Tameside Order 2022 November 2021
    4 May 2023The Oldham Order 2022 November 2021
    4 May 2023The Fylde Order 2022 November 2021
    4 May 2023The Bolton Order 2022 January 2022
    4 May 2023The West Lancashire Order 2022 March 2022
    4 May 2023The Stockport Order 2022 April 2022
    4 May 2023The Wigan Order 2022 May 2022
    4 May 2023The Trafford Order 2022 May 2022
    4 May 2023The Lancaster Order 2022 May 2022
    4 May 2023The Blackpool Order 2022 July 2022
    4 May 2023The Liverpool Order 2022 September 2022

    Structural changes

    DateStatutory InstrumentLGCE Report
    1 April 1998The Cheshire Order 1996 June 1994 Final report October 1994
    September 1995 December 1995
    1 April 1998The Lancashire Order 1996 June 1994 Final report October 1994
    September 1995 December 1995
    1 April 2009The Cheshire Order 2008

    Other structural reviews
    • Cumbria – July 1994 Final report October 1994
    • May 1995
    • September 1995