The government confirmed on 25 March 2026 that Portsmouth, Hampshire, will merge with several neighbouring areas to form a single new council starting in April 2028. This move will see the current city council join with authorities in Gosport, Fareham, and Havant, as well as parts of East Hampshire and Winchester, to create a new organisation called South East Hampshire Council.
This change is part of a wider plan by the government to replace 15 different councils across the region with five larger groups that handle all local services. While officials say this will make services run more smoothly, Portsmouth has managed its own local affairs independently as a unitary authority since 1997.
Local leaders have raised concerns about the plan, with some warning the city could face a 67 million pound funding gap when the new council begins. Councillor Steve Pitt, the Liberal Democrat leader of the city council, has stated that the move is not right for the city and has threatened to take the matter to court.
The model chosen for the merger was not the most popular with residents, receiving only 28 per cent positive feedback during a public consultation—ranking third out of four possible options. According to Hampshire County Council, the new system aims to reflect modern realities, but other local leaders have called the decision deeply flawed.
To help set up the four new unitary authorities across the Hampshire mainland, the government is providing 3.6 million pounds in transition funding. Residents will be asked to vote for representatives for a temporary “shadow” version of the new council in May 2027 before it takes over full responsibility in April 2028.
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