Last updated 25 March 2026
The government has announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation on Wednesday 25 March, which will see Portsmouth City Council become part of a larger unitary authority also covering the areas of Gosport, Fareham and Havant, and include Newlands, Horndean, Clanfield and Rowlands Castle.
We will be working to ensure the best possible outcome for Portsmouth residents and businesses, while continuing to deliver the vital services our communities rely on.
About Local Government Reorganisation
The Government is keen to make changes to how councils are structured and to make them simpler. This largely focuses on areas covered by both a county council (like Hampshire) and a district or borough council (like Fareham, Gosport or Havant). The Government would like all areas of England that currently have two-tier councils to have one single unitary council, each covering an area with an average population of 500,000. Portsmouth City Council is already a unitary council and our population is around 210,000. The government is also keen that existing unitary councils, which they believe are too small to succeed on their own, consider being part of the reorganisation. Portsmouth falls into this category and we received a letter from the minister requesting us to play our part in reorganisation and come up with a proposal for change.
Would Local Government Reorganisation mean Portsmouth City Council no longer exists?
Yes, if reorganisation happens Portsmouth City Council will no longer exist. A new council would be created providing the same services to everyone in the city, but it would cover a larger area and have a different name.
What changes are coming?
Councils were told to submit proposals by 25 September 2025, and Portsmouth City Council wrote to the Government formally rejecting reorganisation, requesting the city is left alone. This position was backed by 82% of the nearly 4,000 residents who responded to our survey and agreed Portsmouth should be left as it is.
Because of the high risk that our request would be ignored, we also offered a preferred option should reorganisation be forced on us. We worked closely with neighbouring councils in the region and jointly proposed the best way to meet the government’s demands. This proposal was for the 15 councils across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to become five new, bigger single councils, including leaving the Isle of Wight as a single authority. This back up proposal has Portsmouth merging with Fareham, Gosport and Havant councils to form one of the bigger new councils. Read about our submission in our press release: Portsmouth formally rejects Local Government Reorganisation
When is Local Government Reorganisation happening?
Any changes that come as a result won’t happen until at least 2028. This may sound like there will be plenty of time to plan, but reorganisation on this scale is complex and the timescales government are proposing are very ambitious.
Did residents have their say?
Portsmouth City Council asked to be excluded from the Local Government Reorganisation process, but this request was refused. The Government ran a consultation from November 19 2025 to 11 January 2026 on four different options – asking for views on reorganising into either five new larger councils or four. In all options considered Portsmouth would merge with Fareham, Gosport and Havant. The government has now announced their chosen option which will be taken forward.
Separately we ran a survey for Portsmouth residents, and of the nearly 4,000 residents who responded, 82% agreed Portsmouth should be left as it is.
What are the different types of councils?
A county council delivers services across a wider area which include education, transport, social care, libraries and trading standards. Hampshire is a county council.
A district or borough council delivers services across a smaller area which include rubbish collection, Council Tax collections, leisure and parks, provide housing, and oversee local planning functions and environmental health and licencing services. A county council will cover the same area as several district or borough councils, meaning the people who live there have two councils. Fareham, Havant and Gosport are borough councils.
A unitary council is one organisation delivering all the services for the residents of that area. Portsmouth City Council is a unitary council.
Why didn’t Portsmouth refuse to be involved in Local Government Reorganisation?
The Government said where local areas do not develop proposals it will use powers it has to enforce changes. We felt it was better to be involved in discussions and develop plans to ensure Portsmouth’s best interests are represented to secure the best possible solution for the city, its residents and businesses.