South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire
Yate town skyline
Shown within Gloucestershire
Coordinates: 51°28′44″N 2°22′48″W / 51.479°N 2.380°W / 51.479; -2.380
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth West England
Ceremonial CountyGloucestershire
Combined authorityWest of England
Admin HQYate
Government
 • TypeUnitary authority
 • BodySouth Gloucestershire Council
 • Leadership(No overall control)
 • MPsClaire Hazelgrove (L)
Damien Egan (L)
Claire Young (LD)
Area
 • Total
191.87 sq mi (496.94 km2)
 • Rank78th (of 296)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
306,332
 • Rank49th (of 296)
 • Density1,596.6/sq mi (616.44/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166GB-SGC
ONS code00HD (ONS) E06000025 (GSS)
OS grid referenceST735757
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireAvon
AmbulanceSouth Western
Websitesouthglos.gov.uk

South Gloucestershire is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, South West England. Towns in the area include Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Kingswood, Thornbury, Filton, Patchway and Bradley Stoke. The southern part of its area falls within the Greater Bristol urban area surrounding the city of Bristol.

South Gloucestershire was created in 1996 to replace the Northavon district and Borough of Kingswood of the abolished county of Avon. It is separate from Gloucestershire County Council, but is part of the ceremonial county and shares Gloucestershire's Lord Lieutenant (the Sovereign's representative to the county). Because of its history as part of the county of Avon, South Gloucestershire works closely with the other unitary authorities that took over when that county was abolished, including shared services such as Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Avon and Somerset Police, together with co-operation in planning strategy for transport, roads and housing.