Shaping the future of Basingstoke town centre

Located on the doorstep of Basingstoke train station, the town centre attracts local and regional shoppers. The area includes The Malls Shopping Centre, which is owned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the historic Top of the Town and Festival Place which is home to over 140 big brands and 20 eateries.

Vision and masterplan

High streets across the UK continue to experience the effects of changes in shopping habits. Although Basingstoke town centre, including Festival Place and The Malls, has had success in attracting investment and new retailers in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that town centres across the country are facing significant challenges, such as a decline in footfall and shop closures.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is working with multi-disciplinary design studio HemingwayDesign, architects Allies and Morrison and property specialists Jones Lang LaSalle to develop an ambitious strategy for the future of the area.

Along with early interventions and work to encourage people to visit the town centre, the vision and masterplan for Basingstoke is being drawn up to set the future direction for the town centre over the coming decades to ensure it is a vibrant hub.

This study has been produced through a pivotal period. The role and nature of town centres has been changing significantly with the contraction in high street retail and the accelerating pressures of climate change forcing us to think again about our buildings, spaces and lifestyles and the pandemic has brought in a re-evaluation of working patterns as well as our homes and green spaces.

Principles included in the masterplan include the creation of new high quality and low carbon urban communities, creating opportunities for a range of uses in addition to retail including space for community and cultural use, space for entrepreneurs and education as well as celebrating the borough’s rich heritage.

Supporting the council’s challenging climate change targets, the masterplan includes plans to improve accessibility by introducing new traffic zones, creating a new bus interchange and a new multi-storey car park.

Extensive public consultation and detailed baseline technical research has shaped the initial vision and masterplan principles. Further technical testing and studies are now under way in partnership with landowners.

Find out more about the vision and masterplan.

The vision and masterplan is due to be considered by councillors in Autumn 2022.

Next steps

To take this project forward, the transformation of Basingstoke town centre will be delivered through partnership between the public and private sector. The council is looking for partners who are interested in bringing the vision and master plan to life.

For enquiries about the town centre future, please contact kate.dean@basingstoke.gov.uk.