Crawley among 39 places across the UK trying to become cities
It's bidding to become Sussex's third city - and the first post-war 'New Town' to get the honour
Last updated 23rd Dec 2021
Crawley is among 39 places across the UK and British Overseas Territories trying to get city status as part of a competition to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
The Sussex town is one of 22 in England looking to becoming cities, alongside the likes of Bournemouth, Reading, Doncaster and Blackburn.
If it is successful, Crawley would become the third place in Sussex to gain city status, and the second in West Sussex - joining Chichester and Brighton and Hove.
It would also be the first of the 'New Town's set up in the aftermath of World War II to receive the honour.
Crawley has already applied for city status three times before.
Speaking about the bid earlier this year, Crawley Borough Council leader Peter Lamb said:
“It would be very hard to think of a better way of trying to regenerate a sense of civic direction, to regenerate a sense of civic pride moving forward.”
He added:
“Crawley’s history is the history of the late 20th and early 21st century. The way in which our town has brought change over that period of time really reflects the development and growth of the country at that time.
“We’re a major regional hub of economic, social and cultural activity that really requires some recognition.
“It cannot be right that West Sussex at this time only has a single city – and that was by an ancient designation as opposed to any modern perception of what a city might well be.
“Crawley is certainly leading the way in terms of this county and what it delivers for the communities that it serves and I think it would be a fantastic thing for us.”
In Scotland, eight areas have applied, including Dumfries and St Andrews, and in Wales, Wrexham has submitted a bid.
In Northern Ireland, Ballymena, Coleraine and Bangor are in the competition.
For the first time ever, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies were also eligible to apply for the title.
Stanley in the Falkland Islands, almost 8,000 miles away, is one of the places to apply, and there are also entries from George Town in the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar.
Some of the other cities applying are Bath, Inverness, Newport and Lancaster.
The competition is part of celebrations to mark the Queen's historic 70-year reign, with a special four-day bank holiday weekend set to start on Thursday 2nd June.
As part of their bids, applicants were asked to talk about the distinct identity and community which they feel means their area deserves to become a city, as well as evidence of links to royalty.
Unlike previous Civic Honours competitions, an expert panel will work closely with ministers to make their recommendations, which will then be approved by the Queen herself!
The final decision will be taken in spring 2022 and announced shortly afterwards.
Here are the places that applied for city status:
England
- Alcester, Warwickshire
- Blackburn, Lancashire
- Bolsover, Derbyshire
- Boston, Lincolnshire
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Colchester, Essex
- Crawley, West Sussex
- Crewe, Cheshire
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Dorchester, Dorset
- Dudley, West Midlands
- Goole, East Yorkshire
- Guildford, Surrey
- Marazion, Cornwall
- Medway, Kent
- Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Newport and Carisbrooke, Hampshire
- Northampton, Northamptonshire
- Reading, Berkshire
- Warrington, Cheshire
- Warwick, Warwickshire
Wales
- Wrexham, Clwyd
Scotland
- Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
- Dunfermline, Fife
- Elgin, Moray
- Greenock, Renfrewshire
- Livingston, West Lothian
- Oban, Argyll and Bute
- St Andrews, Fife
- South Ayrshire, Ayrshire and Arran
N. Ireland
- Ballymena, County Antrim
- Bangor, County Down
- Coleraine, County Londonderry
British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
- Douglas, Isle of Man
- George Town, Cayman Islands
- Gibraltar, Gibraltar
- Peel, Isle of Man
- Stanley, Falkland Islands