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 the council, the historic Top of the Town and Festival Place which is home to 150 stores, 200 big brands and 35 eateries.
We want Basingstoke town centre to work for people across five principles: place, purpose, prosperity, progressive and participatory. People are at the core of these five principles. A masterplan has been drawn up to set the future direction for the town centre over the coming decades to ensure it is a vibrant hub.
Town centre masterplan
The masterplan has been produced through a pivotal period. The role and nature of town centres continues to evolve. The contraction in high street retail and the accelerating pressures of climate change are forcing us to think again about our buildings, spaces and lifestyles. The pandemic brought in a re-evaluation of working patterns as well as our homes and green spaces.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has been working with designers, architects and property specialists to develop an ambitious strategy for the future of the area.
The masterplan includes 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.
Extensive public consultation and detailed baseline technical research has shaped the masterplan. Further technical testing and studies are now under way in partnership with landowners.
Find out more about the vision and masterplan.
The masterplan was adopted by the council in December 2022.
Next steps
Starting in spring 2023, locations around three key entrances to The Malls will be improved for people living in and visiting the area. Artworks by local artists Fátima Pantoja and Sian Storey will extend the popular Streets Alive project, which aimed to create an outdoor art gallery and add a splash of colour for those arriving in Basingstoke town centre.
Fatima Pantoja with her initial design for The Malls
Sian Storey's initial sketch
New lighting and planting will brighten the area and welcome visitors to the town centre and signs will make it easier for them to find their way around.
To continue 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 masterplan to life.
For enquiries about the town centre future, please contact keith.harley@basingstoke.gov.uk.