The government has confirmed that a new northern Hampshire unitary council will serve residents in Basingstoke and surrounding areas from April 2028, marking the biggest change to local authority structures in Hampshire in 50 years.
The new authority will cover the boroughs of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hart District Council and Rushmoor Borough Council. It will operate as a single “all under one roof” council, taking on the full range of services currently delivered by those councils, as well as services provided by Hampshire County Council.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, on Wednesday March 25th. The move follows a wider government push requiring the 15 councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to reorganise into fewer unitary authorities serving larger areas.
Under the plans, four new unitary councils will be created across the region, centred on key economic areas including Basingstoke, Winchester, Portsmouth and Southampton, while the Isle of Wight will remain a standalone unitary authority.
Unitary councils are designed to simplify local government by removing the split between county and district tiers. They bring together responsibilities such as education, transport and highways, adult and children’s social care, housing, planning, waste services, libraries, environmental health and trading standards.
Leaders say the change will reduce confusion for residents, streamline decision-making and cut duplication of services.
Chief Executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Russell O’Keefe welcomed the decision, saying the new structure would allow councils to work more closely together to improve services and support the local economy.
He said the reorganisation would help create clearer lines of responsibility for residents, while giving communities a stronger voice in how services are delivered.
Elections for a shadow authority, which will oversee the transition and prepare for the new council, are expected to take place in May 2027. The shadow body will begin laying the groundwork ahead of the official launch in 2028.
Further details are available via the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council website.
