Press Release

19 November 2025

Councils back “five unitary council” model and urge residents to have their say on Local Government Reorganisation

A group of 11 councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is urging residents, businesses and partners to take part in the Government’s consultation on Local Government Reorganisation. Together the councils all support a five-unitary council model as the best fit for our area to keep services local and deliver at least £63.9m a year of savings. This is in line with the Government’s guidance that new councils should have an average population size of circa 500,000 people.

Our case in simple terms

• Small enough to stay local. Four new councils on the mainland, at an average population size of 500,0000, built around the population centres of Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth, with the Isle of Wight remaining its own unitary. This keeps decisions close to communities, ensures services will be tailored to local needs including those in rural areas and protects local identity and relationships with businesses, the NHS, police, schools, town and parish councils and voluntary groups. 
• Large enough to stay strong. Each council would have the scale to run complex services well, enable economic growth, invest for the long term and be financially resilient - removing duplication and unlocking at least £63.9m a year in recurring savings, paying back the cost of reorganisation in around three years.

Cllr Paul Harvey, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, speaking for the group of councils, said:

“Our message is clear that we want councils close enough to communities to maintain connection and big enough to deliver all services. Our proposal has the support of 11 local authorities in Hampshire and it is focused on our economic geographies that make most sense to the way residents live and work.

"You can find out more and have your say in the Government consultation at www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk.”

Backed by the vast majority of local authorities

Eleven councils are supporting the five-unitary approach: Basingstoke and Deane, Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Portsmouth*, Rushmoor, Southampton, Test Valley, and Winchester. This builds on years of practical joint working and reflects the distinct economic geographies that drive jobs and growth in our area. 
*Portsmouth City Council's request to be excluded from reorganisation was rejected by government so it now supports a five-unitary model.

Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Simon Martin added:

“This consultation is a once in a generation opportunity for Fareham residents to have their say on how local government is managed going forward. This Council continues to support Option 1A which means that Fareham would form part of a new Unitary Council along with Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth.  This option would also include additional boundary changes to bring in Clanfield, Horndean and Rowlands Castle from East Hampshire and Newlands from Winchester into the new authority. Most importantly, it supports our aim to ensure that Fareham is in the strongest possible position moving forward, while retaining its unique local identity. I strongly urge all residents to review the options and respond to the survey.”

What the evidence says

Our business case shows the five-unitary model is the most balanced option for service quality, local voice and long-term finances - designed around real travel-to-work patterns and anchored around our four urban centres plus the Island.

Independent research from the District Councils’ Network found no evidence that creating very large “mega councils” improves performance or saves more money; in many areas, smaller unitaries perform as well or better. This supports our view that councils should be big enough to be sustainable, not bigger than needed.

Find out more and respond to the Government consultation:
www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk 
 

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

• Media contact: Fareham Borough Council Communications Team
  Tel: 01329 824310
  E-mail: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
  This and previous media releases can be viewed on the Council’s website: www.fareham.gov.uk/pressreleases
   
• Joint proposal: The five-unitary model proposes creating four new mainland councils centred on Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth, with the Isle of Wight continuing as a separate unitary reflecting real communities, daily travel and economic ties.
  • Summary - www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk/our-proposal-five-unitary-councils
  • Full business case - www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk/read-our-full-proposal
  • FAQs – www.closeenoughtobelocal.co.uk/your-questions-answered 
     
• Alternative proposal: Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council developed their own proposal which was also submitted to government in September:
  https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/governmentinhampshire/future-hampshire-solent/local-government-reorganisation/proposal
   
• Evidence on council size: DCN research (20 Oct 2025) finds no performance or cost benefit from “mega councils” and challenges the 500k population assumption. Further DCN updates in Mar 2025 reached the same conclusion using official statistics:
  https://www.districtcouncils.info/no-evidence-exists-to-support-mega-councils-study-reveals/
   
• Government consultation: Open until 11 January 2026
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hampshire-isle-of-wight-portsmouth-and-southampton-local-government-reorganisation 

For further information contact:

Customer Enquiries

Tel: 01329 236100
Email: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk

Media Enquiries

The Communications Team
Tel: 01329 824310
Email: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
Fax: 01329 550576

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