BRIGHTON Marina will be lumped in with Whitehawk in boundary changes for council wards.

The changes, which will come into effect for next year’s local elections to Brighton and Hove City Council, will also see a new ward across the traditional Brighton-Hove boundary, encompassing Westdene and Hove Park.

New wards for Round Hill, Kemp Town, Stanmer and Fiveways will be created, but plans to scrap the Brunswick and Adelaide ward, represented by council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty and deputy leader Hannah Allbrooke, have been reversed in the final recommendations put forward by the Local Government Boundary Commission.

Brighton Marina, along with Roedean, will now form part of a “Whitehawk and Marina” ward.

The Argus: A map of the new ward boundaries for Brighton and Hove, due to come into force next year: credit - Local Government Boundary Commission for EnglandA map of the new ward boundaries for Brighton and Hove, due to come into force next year: credit - Local Government Boundary Commission for England (Image: Local Government Boundary Commission for England)

The changes will see a total of 23 wards across the city, an increase of two, with only five wards retaining their existing boundaries.

The number of councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council will remain the same at 54.

Publishing the recommendations, chairman of the commission Professor Colin Mellors said: “We are very grateful to the people of Brighton and Hove. We looked at all the views they gave us and they helped us improve our earlier proposals.

“We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”

More than 1,000 people and organisations made comments to help draft the new wards, with plans to divide Patcham scrapped, the proposed Kemp Town ward to include Arundel Street, and the boundaries for Regency and Brunswick and Adelaide wards to be only slightly modified “having received compelling evidence from local residents to retain the existing boundaries”.

The Argus: The current ward boundaries of Brighton and Hove: credit - Local Government Boundary Commission for EnglandThe current ward boundaries of Brighton and Hove: credit - Local Government Boundary Commission for England (Image: Local Government Boundary Commission for England)

The changes become law once approved by Parliament and staff at the council will ensure the arrangements are in place for the next local elections in May 2023.

The Local Government Boundary Commision for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament, recommending fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in the country.

The commission aims to ensure that each councillor represents a similar number of electors, to deliver reviews informed by local needs and views and create boundaries that are appropriate and reflect community ties and identities.