Councillors met in March 2025 to discuss plans for local government reorganisation for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and agreed to submit a joint interim submission to government, together with the other 14 councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, to meet the 21 March deadline.
They also agreed to advocate and make the case for four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire including a Northern Hampshire Unitary Council, encompassing the existing boroughs and districts of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor.
They will also be asked to advocate and make the case for four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire including a Northern Hampshire Unitary Council, encompassing the existing boroughs and districts of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor.
This option would see the 14 councils in Hampshire, excluding the Isle of Wight, replaced by four new unitary councils focused on each of the four major urban economies of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Basingstoke and their surrounding areas. The four new unitary councils would be:
- Southampton City and Southwest Solent Council
- Portsmouth City and Southeast Solent Council
- Winchester City and Mid Hampshire Council
- Northern Hampshire Council
Following initial work to explore options, this is considered the best option to:
- drive economic growth and housing delivery
- deliver high quality and sustainable services, improve outcomes and achieve efficiency savings
- unlock and maximise devolution arrangements and work effectively alongside the Isle of Wight Council with the new elected Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent as constituent members of the strategic authority
- effectively engage, empower and serve their local communities whilst being large enough to continue to be financially sustainable
The four new unitary councils, covering a population of two million people in mainland Hampshire, would provide the scale of efficiency the government is seeking, maximising opportunities to improve services and ensure they are more delivered more efficiently and reducing overhead costs while still being connected to the communities they serve.
The proposed model would also provide the best platform for further economic growth and investment in the area, unlocking the potential, alongside the creation of a new regional mayor as part of devolution plans, for Hampshire with the ability to tackle local housing pressures.
The creation of four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire is currently the preferred solution for the majority, but not all, of the 15 existing councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight Council, as an island unitary authority, would remain separate and unchanged under this arrangement given their unique geography and circumstances. This is supported by all 15 existing councils.
What would our recommended option mean for the area of Basingstoke and Deane?
This would mean Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council would be replaced by a new Northern Hampshire Unitary Council providing all local government services in the area including those currently provided by Hampshire County Council, who would also be abolished. A new unitary council would encompass the current borough and district areas of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor.
The recommendation agreed by councillors to advocate this option sets out how a new Northern Hampshire Unitary Council would best meet the government’s criteria for the area.
This includes:
- Better driving economic growth
- Improving service delivery
- Realising efficiency savings
- Better reflecting the existing economic, transport and public service links between these areas and reflecting people’s sense of place.
- Providing the opportunity to effectively address key strategic issues and to work closely with other statutory bodies, such as Highways England and Network Rail.
- Being big enough to be financially stable while being connected to the communities it serves.
- Being able to genuinely engage and empower local communities.
- Building on the strong collaboration across the existing council areas of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor. For example, Basingstoke and Deane already have shared services for areas such as waste collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance, legal and support for contact centre calls.
Other key strategic advantages and rationale include:
- Economic and employment links - The economic community of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart, and Rushmoor are interlinked, with key industries such as high-tech businesses, aerospace and financial services heavily centred around Farnborough’s business areas and Basingstoke’s enterprise hubs and employment centres in Fleet and Aldershot. These areas share similar workforce demographics, commuter patterns and economic dependencies, making a natural fit for unified local leadership and service delivery under a new Northern Hampshire Council.
- Housing growth and strategic planning - Basingstoke, Hart, and Rushmoor share common housing and planning challenges, including significant population growth, housing demand and urban expansion. Basingstoke and Deane currently closely collaborates with Hart and Rushmoor and a new Northern Hampshire Council would enable a more joined-up approach to planning, infrastructure investment and sustainable development over a more comprehensive geography.
- Geography - Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor all look to each other and towards London, to Reading and Newbury, as well as Wokingham to the north and northeast to Surrey.
- Transport network integration - The M3 motorway is the principal transport link connecting Basingstoke, Fleet, Farnborough and Aldershot, providing a natural corridor for economic and commuter activity. The A331 Blackwater Valley Relief Road further strengthens the transport links between these areas, ensuring connectivity between businesses and residents. Key rail links between Basingstoke north to Reading and London along with strategic transport corridors allow travel to Berkshire, Surrey and London.
- Healthcare and public services alignment - Residents of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart, and Rushmoor rely on a common set of healthcare providers, particularly Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, which would cater to the population in the new Northern Hampshire Council.
- Environment - Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor have each declared Climate Emergencies, recognising the need to take urgent action to reduce emissions in Northern Hampshire. Given that residents living in these areas produce similar levels of emissions per head, there is the ability to take a more comprehensive approach to supporting residents to make reductions and to benefit from initiatives across the North Hampshire area, such as ‘Warm Homes’. There are also opportunities to create innovative projects to provide Biodiversity Net Gain and wider blue and green infrastructure.
Seeking the views of our residents, businesses and partners
We have carried out initial engagement with key partners, businesses and local members of parliament on our recommended option and have received a positive response. To inform the final proposal to submit in September, much more engagement will take place.