Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has taken its first steps towards delivering a new plan setting out where future homes, jobs and infrastructure in the borough will go.

Residents, businesses, organisations, landowners and developers are all being called on to help drive forward a new Local Plan for Basingstoke and Deane.

Work on the borough council’s existing draft Local Plan had to be halted earlier this year after concerns were identified around the capacity and long-term resilience of South East Water’s supply network serving large parts of the borough.

While the delay effectively prevents the council from progressing the previous draft plan under the Government’s current planning system, it is keen to take forward the work already done and move quickly to develop a new Plan.

The council has now published its intention to prepare a Local Plan under the new planning system introduced recently and set out a timetable to meet the government's 30-month plan-making process. And it has launched a scoping consultation giving people an opportunity to comment on what the new Local Plan should cover and how communities should be involved.

The consultation includes a draft vision and proposed outcomes for the Local Plan, as well as potential issues that future planning policies could address. A draft community engagement strategy has also been published for comment.

Alongside the scoping consultation, developers, landowners and other interested parties are being invited to come forward with land that could be suitable for future development – known as a call for sites.

The consultation and call for sites will run from Friday 9 October until 5pm on Friday 20 November 2026.

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Cllr Andy Koniezcko said: “We have always said that decisions on building new homes must be supported by investment in more local infrastructure. 

“Our research uncovered serious concerns about future water supply in our area, and we have been working with South East Water for the past six months to understand exactly what this means for residents.  Their failure to provide us with a clear steer on how much capacity they have left has held up progress on our existing Plan and affected our ability to finalise a Local Plan that will protect our area from speculative development.

“These delays have meant that we have no choice but to push forward under a new planning system that the government has introduced.

“We are starting work immediately and have launched our scoping consultation and call for sites.  While this early stage of the plan-making process will be particularly important for statutory consultees - such as our town and parish councils, infrastructure providers, utility companies and key regulators including the Environment Agency - we are equally keen to hear from residents and community groups over the coming weeks.

“The work we have already carried out over the past couple of years and the comments sent to us during that time are not wasted, as they will help inform the new Local Plan as well.

"Having an up-to-date Local Plan is vital to ensure we have a strong planning framework that protects the borough from unsuitable development while helping to create the places and communities we want for the future.  It’s an important document and we want as many people as possible to help shape it.”

People can find out more and respond to the scoping consultation at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/scoping-consultation-2026 and find information about the call for sites at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/cfs-2026

Consultation documents are also available to view at the Civic Offices in London Road, Basingstoke, and at libraries across the borough during their opening hours.