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Combined Authorities: Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 27 October 2025UIN 83817

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to rename the combined authority of Hampshire and the Solent to include a reference to the Isle of Wight.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh

In January 2025 we received an expression of interest from all four constituent councils (Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council) to establish a combined county authority over this area. They unanimously proposed the name ‘Hampshire and the Solent’. The Hampshire and the Solent mayoral combined county authority can also change its name by resolution once it is established, should it decide to.

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