Local government reorganisation

On 25 March 2026, the government announced that a new northern Hampshire unitary council will be created in April 2028. The new council will deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.

This is part of the government’s plans for local government reorganisation to make it clear to residents and businesses who is responsible for all local government services in an area by having one council delivering the majority of local services.

How are services delivered now?

Basingstoke and Deane is part of a two-tier structure which the government wants to move away from to simplify local government for residents.

Basingstoke and Deane is a district council and is responsible for determining planning applications, collecting rubbish and recycling, keeping your streets clean and tidy, allocating affordable housing and homelessness prevention, licensing and other services and activities.

Hampshire County Council is responsible for services including education, adult and children's social services, public transport, highways, waste disposal, trading standards and more.

The video below provides more information about the services currently delivered by Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire County Council and parish and town councils.

The creation of new unitary councils means all these responsibilities will be merged and delivered by new unitary councils for each area of Hampshire.

How will services be delivered in the future?

From April 2028, a new northern Hampshire unitary council will deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council. Town and parish councils will not be affected by these changes.

The new council will be responsible for all main council services across the area, such as education, transport and highways, adult and children’s social care and health, housing, planning, waste collection and disposal, libraries, environmental health and trading standards.

The new unitary council is based on proposals that were submitted to the government by 11 of the 15 councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Basingstoke and Deane.

Until April 2028, all local government services will continue to be provided by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, alongside town and parish councils in some areas of the borough.

Key dates for local government reorganisation in Hampshire

Under the current timetable, the new unitary councils will take over from April 2028.

Here are the key dates as part of the government’s timetable for reorganisation in Hampshire:

Local government reorganisation frequently asked questions

What is local government reorganisation?

Local government reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils. It has indicated that for most areas this will mean creating unitary councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.

What is the difference between devolution and local government reorganisation?

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. Local government reorganisation is about how the responsibilities and funding that sit with local government are organised between councils.

Why is local government reorganisation and devolution being proposed?

The government’s long-term vision is for simpler structures, which make it much clearer for residents who they should look to on local issues, alongside more strategic decisions to unlock growth and deliver more joined up services for communities. The government believes that devolution over a large strategic geography, alongside local government reorganisation, can drive economic growth while delivering optimal public services.

What are the timelines for local government reorganisation?

The new unitary council is expected to take over from April 2028.

What does local government reorganisation mean for Basingstoke and Deane?

The changes mean that from April 2028, a new northern Hampshire unitary council will deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council. Town and parish councils will not be affected by these changes.

The new council will be responsible for all main council services across the area, such as education, transport and highways, adult and children’s social care and health, housing, planning, waste collection and disposal, libraries, environmental health and trading standards.

What is a unitary authority?

Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. They may cover a whole county, part of a county or a large town or city. For example, London boroughs are all unitary authorities.

What would new boundaries be in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight?

Following the government’s decision in March 2026, four new councils will be created across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from April 2028. From this date, the new councils delivering services across the county will be:

• Northern Hampshire
• Mid Hampshire
• South West Hampshire
• South East Hampshire
• Isle of Wight (remains a standalone island authority)

Are there other areas of the country that already operate in the way that Hampshire may be structured in the future?

There are many other areas of the country that have unitary authorities rather than county and district councils, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Dorset, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire.

Are parish and town councils affected?

Parish and town councils will not be affected structurally by the changes. They will not be abolished.

The government’s white paper states that local government plays an essential role in convening local partners around neighbourhoods to ensure that community voices are represented, and people have influence over their place and their valued community assets.

Will this affect my services that you provide?

The changes mean that from April 2028, a new northern Hampshire unitary council will deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council. Town and parish councils will not be affected by these changes.

The new council will be responsible for all main council services across the area, such as education, transport and highways, adult and children’s social care and health, housing, planning, waste collection and disposal, libraries, environmental health and trading standards.

We will be working closely with Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council to ensure that residents see no change in our day-to-day services while we get everything ready for the new unitary council to take over.