Reform UK Secures Majority of Seats in Epping Forest District Council Election Amid Mixed Turnout

Context The council elects a third of its 54 members each year, with 2026 being a voting year for district seats. Elections are held by thirds, meaning one‑third of councillors stand for re‑election annually over a four‑year cycle; the fourth year is a fallow year reserved for county council polls, which were postponed from 2025. All 18 seats were up for grabs and all results have been declared.

Key Facts Every one of the 18 wards returned a councillor, with Reform UK candidates winning more than half of the seats. The Epping West and Rural ward recorded the strongest participation at 55 percent turnout, while other wards showed figures ranging from the high thirties to low fifties. Notable wins for Reform UK included Buckhurst Hill East and Whitebridge, Loughton Fairmead, North Weald Bassett, Roydon and Lower Nazeing, Theydon Bois and Passingford, and the three Waltham Abbey wards. Conservative candidates secured Buckhurst Hill West, Chigwell with Lambourne, and Epping West and Rural. Independent Loughton Residents Association candidates took Loughton Forest, Loughton Roding, and Loughton St John’s.

What It Means With a Reform UK majority, the council is likely to see shifts in policy priorities such as housing, local taxation, and service delivery aligned with the party’s platform. Opposition parties will hold fewer seats, limiting their ability to block or amend proposals without cross‑party support. The outcome also signals voter appetite for change in this part of Essex, even as overall turnout remained mixed.

What to watch next Observers will monitor how the new council handles budget decisions and whether the postponed county council elections, now expected later in 2026, will affect the balance of power across local government tiers.