The 1972 act had provided for the transfer of Gatwick Airport and the parishes of Charlwood and Horley from Surrey to West Sussex.

[1] Arguments against the transfer included the loss of expertise built up by the Surrey local authorities on airport management and planning, loss of territories to school catchment areas and remote administration from Chichester.

On 5 December 1971 a demonstration by 1,500 residents disrupted traffic on the main London to Brighton road at the proposed boundary.

[4] On 17 October 1973, it was announced that the government would be holding negotiations about the Surrey/West Sussex boundary.

It passed all stages on the last day of the parliamentary session and received royal assent on 8 February 1974.