Press release from Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council – 25th March 2026
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 northern Hampshire unitary council will be created in April 2028 to deliver services currently run by Basingstoke and Deane, 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 northern Hampshire which were set out in the proposals submitted to the government.
- Deliver joined up services under one roof
- Be close to the communities it would serve
- Drive economic growth
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.
More detail is on the Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council website.