Housing and Strategic Planning

The Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) will take on a leading role in shaping how housing and strategic planning are delivered across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton. With new legal powers and responsibilities, the HSCCA will be able to coordinate development more effectively across council boundaries supporting the delivery of new homes, improving infrastructure, and enabling sustainable, joined-up growth that reflects the needs of local communities.

The HSCCA will play a significant role in the future of strategic housing development and strategic spatial planning across the region. The HSCCA will hold a range of statutory powers and responsibilities. Examples include:

• Preparing a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS): The HSCCA will be required to produce a SDS to guide decisions made by the region’s local planning authorities on the development of housing and infrastructure in their area. The SDS will describe or specify development that the HSCCA considers to be of strategic importance to Hampshire and the Solent, such as the amount or distribution of housing of any kind, including affordable housing, and the provision of infrastructure that improves economic, social or environmental wellbeing. The SDS will be developed in partnership with local planning authorities and stakeholders and subject to public consultation.
• Housing needs review: the HSCCA will have an ongoing duty to regularly assess housing conditions and demand, ensuring that local planning decisions are based on up-to-date evidence.
• Land acquisition: Under specified circumstances, the HSCCA may acquire land and develop it for housing and related facilities, enabling a more joined-up approach to meeting local needs. Before using these land acquisition powers, the HSCCA must consult the local planning authority where the powers are to be exercised.

Some powers and responsibilities for strategic planning will be exercised only by the Mayor. Examples include:

• Mayoral Development Corporations: the Mayor can propose special development areas and deliver growth within them by establishing Mayoral Development Corporations. These corporations can be granted specific powers in relation to planning and attract inward investment for major regeneration schemes in the special development area.
• Mayoral Development Orders: the Mayor will be able to approve certain types of development directly without going through the planning application process. For each Mayoral Development Order, the Mayor must secure the approval of the local planning authority or, if that approval is withheld, the approval of the Secretary of State.
• Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy: once the SDS is in place, the Mayor will have the power to introduce a Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy on new developments to help fund roads, schools, and other essential services in the local area. Currently, only local planning authorities and National Park Authorities can charge a Community Infrastructure Levy in Hampshire and the Solent.
• Planning interventions: once the SDS is in place, the Mayor will be able to intervene in planning applications for strategically important developments. The Mayor will have the ability to ‘call in’ these applications and decide on whether to approve them or to direct the local planning authority to refuse the application.
• The Mayor must have been elected to the the HSCCA for the Board to be able to adopt a Spatial Development Strategy for the region, although preparatory work for the SDS can will be undertaken before the Mayor comes into office.

Much planning related legislation for Combined Authorities is set out in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

With their regional outlook and devolved powers and authority, the Mayor and the HSCCA will be in a strong position to coordinate strategic planning more efficiently and effectively across Hampshire and the Solent. The potential opportunities include:

• Better alignment of new housing with transport, schools, healthcare facilities, and other community services to ensure communities are connected and resilient
• Stronger support for local economic, social and environmental wellbeing
• Improved delivery of affordable and diverse housing types by being able to look at this at a regional level

Planning and Infrastructure Act

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026

English Devolution White Paper (December 2024)

The statutory functions of Mayoral Strategic Authorities, as set out in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill and other legislation.

Functions which are solely exercisable by the Mayor of a Mayoral Strategic Authority

Note that Mayoral Combined County Authorities are a form of Mayoral Strategic Authority for areas with county and district councils.