Southampton Urban Area

The Southampton Urban Area or Greater Southampton is an unofficial term for the conurbation surrounding Southampton in Hampshire, England. It has been variously defined as the Southampton Travel to Work Area, and the Office for National Statistics have referred to it as the Southampton Urban Area with a population of 304,400 (2001 census). [ [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf The UK’s major urban areas as defined by the Office of National Statistics] ] With 234,224 people, Southampton itself makes up over half the population. Bishopstoke (17,282) and Eastleigh (52,894) provide the remainder.

The Southampton urban area can be looked at as part of a larger multi-centred metropolitan area also including Greater Portsmouth, in the general South Hampshire region.

In the lead up to the Local Government Act 1972 there was an active proposal to make South Hampshire into a fully fledged metropolitan county but this plan was not adopted. The various cities and boroughs of South Hampshire remained under control of Hampshire County Council based at Winchester. However, in 1997, the City of Southampton became a unitary authority.

References