A BID to boost the south Hampshire economy by forming a partnership between councils and businesses across the Solent is one of just 24 in the UK to win Government backing.

The decision, which cements the M27 corridor as a stand-alone economic area, triggered jubilation among leaders at towns and cities across the south of the county.

But it is a blow for Hampshire County Council, which saw its own proposal number among more than 30 snubbed by the Government.

It leaves question marks over how it will now generate economic growth in the rest of the county.

A government spokesman said Hampshire had been given “informed feedback” on its bid and could reapply in the future. Another proposal from Basingstoke and the north of the county was also rejected.

Covering a population of more than 1.3 million people and some 50,000 businesses, the Solent area Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is intended to drive prosperity here by generating private and public investment.

LEPs are the Government’s alternative to regional development agencies such as SEEDA, which have traditionally handed out public funds but are now being wound down.

The Solent proposal sees business leaders team up with four universities, local colleges, three unitary authorities, eight district councils and the voluntary sector to attract jobs and investment and make the economy grow. It targets attracting new industry and cutting-edge manufacturing work as well as expanding south Hampshire’s thriving research base as cornerstones of its push to make the area’s economy perform better.

A statement from the Solent LEP said: “The vision is to create an environment that will better facilitate economic growth and private sector investment in the Solent area, allow businesses to grow, become more profitable, greener and enable new businesses to form and prosper.

“The Solent LEP partners are determined to put business at the heart of economic growth in the Solent area, enabling this recognised globally competitive area to realise its full potential.”

Among other things, the Solent LEP will focus on rebalancing the local economy in favour of the private sector.

No one from Hampshire County Council was available to comment at the time of going to press.