Government has announced its decision on the future of local councils across Hampshire and the Solent area, creating five new unitary (all-purpose) councils to replace the current 15 councils serving the area.

We are having regular meetings with Council colleagues about the pending changes and the impact on local services. 

The new councils announced are:

• North Hampshire: Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor

• Mid Hampshire: New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester and East Hampshire

• South West Hampshire: Eastleigh and Southampton

• South East Hampshire: Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport and Fareham

• Isle of Wight

This model also includes the following boundary changes:

• Move the parishes of Totton and Eling, Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden, Fawley (currently under New Forest District Council) and Chilworth, Nursling, Rownhams and Valley Park (currently under Test Valley Borough Council) to the proposed South West Unitary.

• Move the parishes of Newlands (currently under Winchester City Council) Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle (currently under East Hampshire District Council) to the proposed South East unitary.

These councils are expected to be in place from April 2028, when each new one will be responsible for delivering all local services in its area.

If you're interested, you can find more information on:

local government reorganisation here