Local government reorganisation (LGR)

Just before Christmas 2024, the government shared their plans for changes in local government across the country by fast-tracking devolution, which is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. At the same time, they announced local government reorganisation to create new unitary authorities.

Decision

The government have announced that they have chosen the option which means Test Valley is set to join Winchester, New Forest and East Hampshire to create a new Mid-Hampshire unitary council, but its communities in Nursling and Rownhams, Valley Park and Chilworth will join Southwest Hampshire. 

There are also boundary changes affecting New Forest, Winchester and East Hampshire, which mean that some of their communities will join neighbouring unitary councils. 

The new unitary authority will replace the existing borough, district and city councils, and Hampshire County Council, to create a single layer of councils responsible for all services in their area.   

Based on the model for five unitary councils put forward by 13 councils in the area, including Test Valley, the government will create the following new councils that will go live on 1 April 2028: 

  • North Hampshire unitary authority – Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor 
  • Mid-Hampshire unitary authority – Test Valley, Winchester, New Forest and East Hampshire 
  • Southwest Hampshire unitary authority – Eastleigh, Southampton (including some current areas of Test Valley and New Forest)
  • Southeast Hampshire unitary authority – Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport and Fareham (including some current areas of Winchester and East Hampshire)
  • Isle of Wight unitary authority
Option 1A LGR

What is LGR in a bit more detail?

Local government reorganisation is a process initiated by government to change how local councils are organised. The aim is to reorganise councils so that they have clearer accountability, more joined-up services, and long-term financial sustainability.  

Many places, including most of Hampshire, currently operate a two-tier system, with a county council providing some local services and district or borough councils providing other local services. In the future, all local services in an area will be provided by a single ‘unitary’ authority.