THOUSANDS of new jobs and homes could be created if bids for a 'Southern Powerhouse' in Hampshire get the nod from Government ministers.

The county's council leaders have signed a letter to a top Conservative minister outlining their plans for how millions of pounds of Government money could be devolved to Hampshire.

As previously reported, they are keen to follow the lead of authorities in Greater Manchester and elsewhere, which are gaining greater powers over health, transport and other budgets.

The leaders of Hampshire's local authorities say the plans would not see the South’s existing councils vanish, but instead create a new layer of Government formed by council leaders. They would control of millions of pounds of funding each year, currently in the hands of Government ministers.

They got the ball rolling with a letter to Communities and Local Government Secretary Greg Clark earlier this year and have outlined more details in a "statement of intent" in which they describe their plans as "bold and ambitious".

Their proposals include plans for more cooperation in delivering new homes that could see thousands of properties, including affordable houses, built on brownfield sites.

They want to set up a new "Hampshire and Isle of Wight Land Board" to coordinate development on Hampshire's biggest sites and help young people and adults gain more work and skills opportunities through apprenticeships, traineeships and other initiatives.

A new 'Southern Powerhouse' would also work alongside local enterprise partnerships to maximise investment opportunities that could create new jobs and boost research and maritime and high-tech sectors by creating a university enterprise zone.

There could also be big changes to transport in the county and the Isle of Wight, with a pledge to "deliver a modern transport system with a sustainable future" by taking responsibility for managing and improving the county's motorways and major roads.

It could see a smart ticketing transport system, building on the existing Solent Go scheme, that residents could use to pay for bus, rail and ferry services and they hope to keep 100 per cent of business rate growth to boost funding for major projects.

There are also hopes for more superfast broadband, better integration of health and social care and the development of new renewable and low carbon energy generation and distribution schemes.

The new authority – which they say would see councils share premises, staff and services – could be led by a directly elected mayor. Other leadership structures will be looked at.

They say they will send proposals of more detailed plans later this year and it is hoped there will be may be an announcement from Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement.