East Hampshire District Council is once again demanding answers from the Government on how Local Plans will be affected by Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), proactively looking at how we can best move forward during this uncertain period.
In May 2026, EHDC announced that it would redirect its plan-making work to focus on the new geography formed by the forthcoming shake-up of Hampshire councils. We said the Government’s confused and counter-productive changes to planning rules, plus the shifting sands of LGR, had made developing a district-wide Local Plan unjustifiable for EHDC.
On Tuesday, Winchester City Council announced it will also look to collaborate with neighbouring authorities in the future Mid-Hampshire council on a future Local Plan.
Cllr Richard Millard, EHDC Leader, said: “Over a month ago we made the bold decision to tell the Government that we would be redirecting our plan-making to concentrate on the new council area that will come into being in 2028. This means the district councils covering the proposed new Mid-Hampshire unitary council working together proactively.
“We called for greater clarity from the Government on why councils undergoing LGR should develop plans for boundaries that will soon disappear, using guidance that will soon become obsolete. We are still waiting for that guidance.
“Now Winchester City Council has followed suit and will channel their plan-making resources towards a joint Local Plan. I welcome this and I am sure more councils around Hampshire and beyond will follow suit.
“Any plan created by EHDC alone in this current period of upheaval in local government would have a very short shelf-life. However, we still believe in the value of creating strong and forward-thinking Local Plans, which is why we want to have a lead role in looking to the future.”
Cllr Andy Tree, EHDC Deputy Leader, said: “This sensible course of action looks to protect Alton, Whitehill & Bordon and our villages in the north of the district from inappropriate development by engaging early on with our neighbouring councils within the proposed new unitary council area, to ensure East Hampshire interests are heard and understood.”