Twelve Hampshire and Isle of Wight Councils Launch Public Engagement on Local Government Reorganisation
Date: 1 July, 2025
Twelve local councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Southampton City Council, have announced the launch of a major public engagement campaign as they begin to shape proposals for a significant reorganisation of local government in the region.
In response to the government’s ambition to simplify council structures in England, the councils are working together to explore options that would replace the current two-tier system — where services are split between Hampshire County Council and district or borough councils — with a series of new unitary authorities. These would be single councils responsible for delivering all local services in their areas, similar to the current arrangements in Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight, which are already unitary authorities.
As part of the proposed changes, the councils are suggesting that the Isle of Wight remain a standalone unitary authority, while the 14 councils on the mainland would be reorganised into four new unitary authorities, reducing the overall number of councils from 15 to 5 across the region.
The councils involved in the proposals include:
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
• Eastleigh Borough Council
• Fareham Borough Council
• Hart District Council
• Havant Borough Council
• Isle of Wight Council
• New Forest District Council
• Portsmouth City Council
• Rushmoor Borough Council
• Southampton City Council
• Test Valley Borough Council
• Winchester City Council
According to leaders, this new structure would provide the best balance between delivering services at a sustainable scale and maintaining local accountability and identity. They argue that fewer, larger councils — some potentially serving over a million residents — would risk losing vital local connections and the ability to tailor services to the specific needs of communities.
The group says the proposed five-unitary model would enable councils to make services more efficient, while still understanding and representing the distinct needs of their local populations.
As part of the next phase of the process, the councils are launching a public engagement survey across their areas. This will allow residents, businesses, and community organisations to share their views on the proposed changes and what matters most to them when it comes to local services and community identity.
The feedback gathered will help shape a preferred option for how councils could be reorganised, which will then be submitted to the government for consideration.
Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council, encouraged widespread participation in the survey:
“We are all looking forward to hearing what residents across Southampton, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have to say about what makes their communities so special. We encourage everyone to fill in the survey to give us the best evidence base to then support our case on reorganisation in discussions with the government.”
The councils are urging residents across the region to take part and help shape the future of local government across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Residents can access the survey and share their views through their local council’s website.