Devolution

Last updated 20 April 2026

For a number of years the council has been keen to bring new powers and benefits to our area through devolution. In December 2024 the Government announced new policies regarding the separate issues of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation which have significantly moved things forward and we’ve put the below information together to try to ensure our residents and businesses fully understand the situation.

A Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority website has been created and is the best place to keep updated and learn more about devolution and what it means for the region.

Devolution is where powers that currently sit with the national government are given to a local area so local decision makers can have more of a say in what happens in their area. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect. The Government is keen to do this through something called Strategic Authorities.

The Government has confirmed that it will be progressing with the creation of a new Mayoral County Combined Authority (MCCA) for Hampshire and the Solent. The decision marks a pivotal milestone in the journey toward greater local decision-making and investment for the area.

In March 2026, the Government announced £1.3 billion of funding for the region, and a what is called a Statutory Instrument allowing the new authority to form was laid in parliament. Read our dedicated news article: Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority set to deliver transformative changes across the region.

Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council, and Isle of Wight Council are working closely with the Government on the legislative framework that will underpin the new powers to formally establish the new MCCA.

Elections for the new Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent were due to take place in May 2026, but the Government has now delayed this until 2028.

You can read more about this in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper English Devolution White Paper which was published on 16 December 2024.

As we are now part of Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, the Government has instructed the four councils to press forward with devolution. We are establishing the new Strategic Authority in 2026 and the now delayed Mayoral Elections are now expected to happen in 2028.

The Government has been clear the local geography that meets their criteria for devolution for our area is Hampshire and The Solent. This means the new Strategic Authority area will be the areas covered by Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.

Nothing we do is changing in the short-term. When a Strategic Authority comes into existence it will take some of our strategic responsibilities such as transport, strategic housing, skills and sub-regional economic growth issues. However, this is very unlikely to change the services most residents rely on.

The Government ran a consultation on proposals for the new Strategic Authorities between February and April 2025. You can read the outcomes of the consultation online here.