IT Blunder Reveals £1.3bn Devolution Deal Including Isle Of Wight Funding

An IT mishap has accidentally exposed government plans to hand £1.3 billion to the proposed Hampshire and Solent Mayoral Authority — a deal that could bring long-awaited investment to the Isle of Wight and the wider region.

The figure appeared briefly on a Southampton City Council test website, which mistakenly published a draft press release before it had received final government approval.

According to the leaked document, the region has been “in principle” awarded £44.6 million a year for 30 years as part of a major devolution deal — funding that could help drive investment, improve transport links, and boost skills and job creation across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight.

While much of the focus has been on the mainland cities, the proposed deal is also expected to have significant implications for the Isle of Wight, potentially giving the Island a stronger voice in regional decision-making and access to new funding streams for local infrastructure, housing, and economic growth.

Council leaders on the mainland have hailed the announcement as a major milestone.

Southampton City Council leader Alex Winning called it a “game-changing opportunity” to shape the region’s future locally.

Hampshire County Council’s Nick Adams-King described the plans as a “vote of confidence in local leadership,” while Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt said the funding could “turn huge potential into reality.”

However, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has yet to officially confirm the figures, and discussions are still ongoing.

If approved, the new Hampshire and Solent Strategic Authority would be established in May 2026, led by a directly elected mayor overseeing transport, housing, skills, and economic development — including for the Isle of Wight.

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said the figures had been published “in error” and were swiftly removed from the website.