MPs have approved official legalisation which will allow local government reorganisation in Dorset.

A deferred division in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon saw MPs vote in favour of the draft structural change orders which will replace the county’s existing nine councils with two new unitary authorities.

One will cover 'rural' Dorset which will include the current authorities of Weymouth and Portland, Purbeck, West Dorset and East Dorset while the other will cover Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said he was delighted that the wait is now over because it would provide clarity but stressed that there could be more challenges ahead.

Councillor Jeff Cant, leader of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said he was delighted about the news but stressed that the process should have been much quicker. 

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare told the Dorset Echo that the process would create a strong and efficient local government for the county. 

He added that there was a “huge” majority of support during the vote in the House of Commons, followed by a short debate and support in the House of Lords.

However, the approval comes just after the High Court ordered that a decision on whether Christchurch council’s judicial review challenging the local government reorganisation (LGR) process can be heard will be made next month.

The council’s application for the urgent consideration of its application was heard on Tuesday by Mr Justice Supperstone.

Justice Supperstone ordered the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to acknowledge receiving the claim within seven days and that a decision on whether to allow the judicial review should be made by June 8.

Councillor David Flagg, leader of Christchurch Borough Council, said: “We requested that the courts expedite the process for the judicial review application to be heard and we are pleased this request has been considered, and agreed, so quickly. 

"The opinion of our legal team following the response we received last week has not changed and we firmly believe that the regulations drafted by the secretary of state are beyond his powers.” 

However, in a joint statement, the other eight councils involved in Dorset’s LGR said that they were continuing with their work despite Christchurch council’s legal challenge.