Partial Review of Brighton & Hove Polling Districts and Places - 2025

Brighton & Hove City Council are conducting a partial review of its polling districts and polling places under Section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and in line with the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013. We are only conducting a partial review so that we can react to changing circumstances that are specific to certain wards. The six wards included in this partial review are: 

• Central Hove
• Hangleton & Knoll
• Kemptown
• North Portslade
• Whitehawk & Marina
• Woodingdean 

A comprehensive review took place in 2022 following the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s Review of the city’s wards - and the passing of the Elections Act 2022. This Act brought about changes including the introduction of Voter ID.  

A further partial review took place in 2023 to make further necessary changes to a limited number of wards. 

The proposed scheme will follow similar design principles to 2022 and 2023. These are: 

• assign a polling place to each polling district and elector
• so far as is reasonable and practicable, ensure polling places are nearby to electors and located close to public transport routes and local amenities.
• so far as is reasonable and practicable ensure every polling place has step free access or can be provided with a ramp
• help facilitate the safe and efficient administration and delivery of local and parliamentary elections
• have a high proportion of double/triple stations. This will enable polling places to benefit from a higher proportion of senior staff who can resolve issues.
• ensure most polling stations have between 1,250-1,750 polling station electors. This will ensure that polling stations are not too busy or quiet, staffing resources are best utilised and Electoral Commission ratios do not require further polling station splits.
• where possible, limit the use of schools
• avoid the use of temporary buildings 

The Council has published notice of holding the review and consulted the (Acting) Returning Officer for each Parliamentary Constituency in the Council’s area. The (Acting) Returning Officer has commented on the proposals throughout. An interactive map of the proposals can be viewed here

The Council then invites comments on the proposals. The consultation paper will be published on the Council’s website. It will also be sent to Councillors, Members of Parliament, local political parties, and local people and stakeholders with expertise in disability and accessibility.

All representations will be considered and responded to by the (Acting) Returning Officer. They will be published in the final report by the (Acting) Returning Officer with their final recommendations. Full Council will consider the proposals and make a final decision on 23 October. The agreed polling districts will then be passed to the Electoral Registration Officer for publication in the revised Register of Electors. This register will be published on 8 December.

The timetable for the review is set out below:

• Publication of notice of review, and consultation document including (Acting) Returning Officer’s proposals – Tuesday 26 August 2025
• Closing date for representations – Sunday 28 September 2025
• Final proposal published via Agenda papers and website – Wednesday 15 October 2025
• Decision on scheme at Full Council meeting –- Thursday 23 October 2025
• Revised Register Published – Monday 8 December 2025
• Combined County Authority Mayoral election – Thursday 7 May 2026

The Council and (Acting) Returning Officer welcome your thoughts on our proposals. When making comments or alternative proposals, please consider the principles that we have used to develop the scheme:

• assign a polling place to each polling district and elector
• so far as is reasonable and practicable, ensure polling places are nearby to electors and located close to public transport routes and local amenities.
• so far as is reasonable and practicable ensure every polling place has step free access or can be provided with a ramp
• help facilitate the safe and efficient administration and delivery of local and parliamentary elections
• have a high proportion of double/triple stations. This will enable polling places to benefit from a higher proportion of senior staff who can resolve issues.
• ensure most polling stations have between 1,250-1,750 polling station electors. This will ensure that polling stations are not too busy or quiet, staffing resources are best utilised and Electoral Commission ratios do not require further polling station splits.
• where possible, limit the use of schools
• avoid the use of temporary buildings

You can respond to the review in several ways:

• online on our consultation portal ‘Your Voice’
• by email to electors@brighton-hove.gov.uk
• by post to: The Returning Officer, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BQ

We must receive your views by Sunday 28 September 2025 for them to be considered in this review 

The current scheme includes Hove Library as the polling place for polling district HCHZ. The library’s functions have since changed to host one of the city’s two Help Desks to provide in-person support to residents. To prevent interference with this function, it is proposed to remove Hove Library from the scheme. 

This change provides an opportunity to revisit the polling district boundaries for this ward, to provide more locally situated polling stations for a higher number of electors. A new polling place at Emmanual Church, Clarendon Villas is therefore proposed, with amended polling district boundaries. 

Current scheme 

Proposed scheme  

The current scheme includes St Helen’s Church Hall as the polling place for polling district HHKZ. St Helen’s Church Hall has limited step-free access and therefore provides reduced accessibility for some electors. It is therefore proposed to remove St Helen’s Church Hall from the scheme.

The most suitable alternative polling place for electors in this polling district has been identified as At the Oasis, Hangleton Way. This venue currently serves as a polling place for polling district HHKX, and has full level access from the street into the hall. 

It is therefore proposed to merge polling districts HHKZ and HHKX to create a double station. This aligns with the review’s principles of increasing accessibility for disabled voters, and creating more double polling stations to increase the number of senior staff available at each polling place.

Current scheme

Proposed scheme 

The current scheme includes The Spire as the polling place for polling district KKTX. The Spire is no longer able to serve as a polling place due to structural problems with the building. The Spire is therefore being removed from the scheme. 

It is proposed to redraw the polling district boundaries in order to locate the remaining two polling places in the heart of their polling districts, resulting in a more local polling station for a higher number of electors. Polling district KKTX would therefore reduce in size, and its remaining electors be allocated to The Manor Gym & Sports Centre. 

The Manor Gym currently serves as a polling place for Whitehawk & Marina. This proposal would therefore align with this review’s principle of increasing the number of double polling stations.  

Current scheme

Proposed scheme

The current scheme includes the Church of the Good Shepherd Hall as the polling place for polling district HNPZ. There is a significant lip at the entrance of this hall, reducing accessibility for some electors. It is therefore proposed to change the polling place to the church itself, which has no lip on the threshold.  

No polling district boundary changes are proposed for this ward. 

Current scheme  

Proposed scheme  

The current scheme includes Whitehawk Library as the polling place for polling district KWMY. Whitehawk Library currently serves as an access point to council services for residents who don’t have access to the internet, or who require library staff support in order to self-serve. The library must close to the public on election day, resulting in reduced access to council services for some residents. It is therefore proposed to remove Whitehawk Library from the scheme. 

It is proposed to split polling district KWMY, and for it to be absorbed by three neighbouring polling districts. Electors would vote at the established polling places for these districts: Robert Lodge Meeting Rooms (KWMW), The Manor Gym & Sports Centre (KWMX), and St Cuthman’s Church (KWMZ). 

Current scheme  

Proposed scheme 

The current scheme includes Woodingdean Library as the polling place for polling district KWOZ. Woodingdean Library currently serves as an access point to council services for residents who don’t have access to the internet, or who require library staff support in order to self-serve. The library must close to the public on election day, resulting in reduced access to council services for some residents. It is therefore proposed to remove Woodingdean Library from the scheme.

The most suitable alternative polling place for electors in this polling district has been identified as the Parish Room, Church of the Holy Cross. This venue currently serves as a polling place for polling district KWOY.

It is therefore proposed to merge polling districts KWOZ and KWOY to create a double station. This aligns with the review’s principle of creating more double polling stations to increase the number of senior staff available at each polling place.

Current Scheme

Proposed Scheme