Plans that could see changes to the constituencies in Test Valley have been announced by the government, with the south east set to gain up to seven seats in Parliament.

Under the plans, announced by the Boundary Commission for England, many of the 533 constituencies in England will be redrawn to try and ensure that each MP is elected by a similar number of people. 10 new constituencies will also be created, though the overall number of MPs in the UK will remain the same at 650.

Due to population rises in the south east, seven new seats will be created, while areas of the north and midlands will lose seats. One change will come on the Isle of Wight, which will be split into two constituencies under the plans.

While the commission has only just started work, and has yet to announce changes, previous reviews may hold a clue as to how the constituencies in the area will change.

In 2018, plans included the creation of a Test Valley constituency. This would have taken in most of the current Romsey and Southampton North constituency, while also taking in wards of North West Hampshire such as Anna, Amport and Shipton Bellinger. Wards of Winchester and Eastleigh would also have been added to the constituency.

This would have left Andover right on the border of the North West Hampshire constituency, which itself would have had wards of North East Hampshire added to even out elector numbers, with the wards of Bramley and Sherfield, Pamber and Silchester, and Sherborne St. John included.

However, these plans were never enacted, with the last boundary changes having occurred in 2010. The passing of the Parliamentary Constituencies bill in December formally abandoned the 2018 plans, with the boundary commission using the most up to date electoral figures to decide on new changes. Their initial proposals are due to be published in the summer.

Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England said: “Today marks the start of our work to review the constituency boundaries in England. Parliament has set strict rules on greater equality of electorate size between the new constituencies -­ these rules and the increase in total number of constituencies in England mean that there is likely to be a large degree of change across the country.

“Once we publish our initial proposals in the summer, we will need the help of residents in all regions to ensure that our proposals take account of local ties and best reflect the geography on the ground. Everyone’s views will help us recommend a well­ considered and practical set of new constituency boundaries in England.”