New councils announced for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

On Wednesday 25 March 2026, the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP announced the final structure for new councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as part of its plans to simplify how local services are delivered across the county.

This means that a new North Hampshire Council will be created in April 2028 to deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.

The new council would deliver all local government services, such as waste collections, keeping your streets clean and tidy, adult and children’s social services, education, highways and public transport, under one roof.

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.

We will work 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.

What does this mean for Basingstoke and Deane?

There are a number of benefits of a new council for North Hampshire which were set out in the proposals submitted to the government.

Deliver joined up services under one roof

The new council will deliver all local services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane and Hampshire County Council as part of one organisation, making it easier for residents to access services.

This would build on successful shared service arrangements already in place in north Hampshire, including waste collection and street cleaning services and other joint initiatives between Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor.

The new council for north Hampshire will be well placed to design and deliver joined up serviced that are tailored to meet local needs and financially sustainable for the future. 

Be close to the communities it would serve

It will focus on north Hampshire and would be more responsive to local needs and better able to maintain the unique character of the area, protecting residents’ sense of place and local identity.   

It is local enough to understand communities’ needs and give them a real say in shaping decisions. 

Drive economic growth

Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor form a natural economic geography across north Hampshire. Our economies are closely connected and look out of Hampshire towards London unlike most of the rest of Hampshire that looks to the coastal cities of Portsmouth and Southampton.

Northern Hampshire is already home to established businesses including BMW, BAE Systems, The AA, Fujitsu, Serco, Sony Europe, Eli Lilly and Company, Qinetiq, AWE and Network Rail.  

Our strategic position on the M3 corridor, connecting Basingstoke, Fleet, Farnborough and Aldershot, provides a natural corridor for economic and commuter activity. It provides an opportunity to maximise the area’s full economic potential by unlocking barriers to their growth, generating more high value local jobs and retaining talent in north Hampshire. 

What does this mean for the rest of Hampshire?

The government’s decision will see four new unitary councils created in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight that will provide all services to the people in their areas. This follows a government consultation in late 2026 on four options put forward by councils across the county.

As well as a new council for our area, the other councils that will deliver services across Hampshire include

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

These new councils are based on proposals that were submitted to the government by 11of the 15 councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including us.

The joint proposal submitted to government, entitled Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong, from 11* of the 15 councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can be viewed below. A website detailing the work carried out by the 11 councils is also available.

View the full proposal - Close enough to be local, big enough to stay strong

Foreword and Executive Summary

1. Our approach to assessing the options and developing this proposal

2. Our vision for four mainland unitary authorities and the Isle of Wight

3. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – the areas, economies, and partnership working

4. How our model meets the government criteria

5. Isle of Wight case for remaining as an existing unitary council

6. Alignment of our proposal to other government priority policy areas

7. Financial Case

8. Implementation Plan

Appendices

The new council structures are designed to better drive economic growth, deliver redesigned public services tailored to local needs and empower communities by enabling residents to shape local decisions. It would also unlock and maximise devolution arrangements with the new councils working effectively with the Isle of Wight Council and the new elected Mayor for the whole region.