New Forest local government reorganisation (LGR) decision confirmed by Government

Residents of the New Forest district will be served by two new unitary councils from April 2028.

The announcement was made by the Government on Wednesday amid local government reorganisation (LGR) for Hampshire.

It means residents of the Waterside will receive services from a new local authority, alongside Southampton, Eastleigh and part of Test Valley while those in the rest of the Forest will receive their services from a separate new mid-Hampshire council.

This will also cover East Hampshire, Winchester and a large part of Test Valley.

The two new unitary councils will comprise:

• South West: Southampton, Eastleigh and the parishes of Totton and Eling, Marchwood, Hythe and Dibden, Fawley (New Forest) and Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, and Valley Park (Test Valley)
• Mid Hampshire: East Hampshire, Winchester, Test Valley and the New Forest, excluding the Parishes in the New Forest and Test Valley, specified above.

Kate Ryan, chief executive of New Forest District Council, said: ‘I know many residents will be wondering what this means for them and the services they rely on. The most important thing to say today is that nothing is changing right now.

‘There are no immediate changes to our services, our staff are still out doing their jobs, and the ways to contact us stay the same. It’s business as usual while in the background we work to create two successful new councils.’