Southampton City Council backs LGR option for merger of Southampton, Eastleigh, the Waterside and lower Test Valley

Southampton City Council has today submitted its preferred proposal for Local Government Reorganisation to the government following months of collaborative working, research, public engagement and debate by the council earlier this week

The proposals represent the collective efforts of 12 councils that have been working together to establish a way forward that meets the government’s criteria for reorganisation. The 12 councils concluded that four new unitary authorities on the mainland, plus the Isle of Wight, allows the right balance between councils which are big enough to be sustainable and drive efficiencies, but small enough to remain connected to their communities.

The proposal submitted by Southampton City Council would see the creation of a new council in the South West of the region that covers the existing council areas of Southampton and Eastleigh as well as the parishes of Valley Park, Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, Totton and Eling, Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden, and Fawley.

The proposed geography is based on four key principles:

• Bringing together similar communities by creating new councils which reflect the distinct urban and rural areas of the county
• Driving economic and housing growth – bringing together economic, industrial and maritime infrastructure on both sides of Southampton Water to unlock greater economic growth
• Building on data including travel to work, transport and public service access patterns across the area
• Creating sustainable councils with more balanced population numbers and council tax bases

Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:
"The current council boundaries were drawn up in the 1970s and haven’t kept pace with how our city and region have changed. Communities have grown, economies have shifted, and the way people live, work, and access services is completely different now.

"Our proposal reflects that modern reality. It brings together urban areas that already share common challenges and ambitions — places that are connected by transport, jobs, and public services.

"By joining up Southampton, Eastleigh, the Waterside, and lower Test Valley, we can build a council that’s financially sustainable, responsive to its communities, and focused on delivering excellent services. It’s also a chance to unlock new opportunities for investment, jobs, and growth across the South Coast".

The government is now expected to review the preferred options submitted by all of the councils in the Hampshire and the Solent area and bring forward a public consultation later in the year.