Six information sessions are being held as part of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s consultation on the draft spatial strategy for the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan.

 

Residents have until 5pm on Friday 23 January 2026 to have their say on where homes and other types of development could be built.

 

The drop-in events are being held on:

•        Tuesday 6 January 2026 from 2pm to 8pm at The Warren Centre, Andover Road, Micheldever Station, SO21 3AR

•        Wednesday 7 January 2026 from 4pm to 8pm at St John’s Village Hall, Mortimer RG7 3TF

•        Thursday 8 January 2026 from 10am to 6pm at Porchester Square (outside M&S), Festival Place, Basingstoke

•        Tuesday 13 January 2026 from 2pm to 8pm at Cliddesden Millennium Village Hall, Church Lane, Cliddesden RG25 2JQ

•        Wednesday 14 January 2026 from 2pm to 8pm at Sherfield Park Community Centre, Sunwood Drive, Sherfield on Loddon, RG27 0FP

•        Thursday 15 January 2026 from 2pm to 8pm at The Woodpecker, Wash Water, RG20 0LU.

 

The council previously consulted on a full draft Local Plan in 2024. But changes to national planning guidance mean the council now needs to plan for significantly more homes to be delivered in the borough.

These changes mean a rise from 830 homes to approximately 1,150 new homes per year – an extra 6,300 homes over the plan period. More land is also needed for employment uses and supporting infrastructure.

 

Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Cllr Andy Konieczko said: “The government's change to planning guidance means we now have to plan for around 20,000 new homes up to 2042 - that's more than 6,000 additional new homes compared to the last time we consulted. We have had to allocate sites that weren't in the previous draft of the Local Plan and that means taking some difficult choices. However, if we don’t add in the extra sites, we risk losing control over where development happens, which could lead to speculative building in unsuitable places.

 

“This consultation is a chance for everyone to have their say on the proposed sites included in the draft strategy and our drop-in information events are a good opportunity to talk to our planning officers to find out more.”

 

Feedback from the consultation – technically known as the Regulation 18 stage of the Local Plan – and evolving evidence work will help to draw up a further draft Local Plan. This will be consulted on again next year, before it is submitted for examination by an independent planning inspector. The council is aiming to adopt the draft Local Plan by late 2027.

 

More information is available and views can be given at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/DLP-have-your-say