The future of Basingstoke town centre

Town centre masterplan

Working with designers, architects and property specialists we have developed an ambitious strategy for the future of the area. Produced during a pivotal period where:

• the role and nature of town centres is evolving, as demand for retail space shrinks and demand for a diverse and flexible mix of uses increases
• pressures of climate change forces us to think again about our buildings, spaces and lifestyles
• the pandemic has brought about a re-evaluation of working patterns as well as our homes and green spaces

The masterplan:

• includes the creation of new high quality and low carbon urban communities
• creates opportunities for a range of uses in addition to retail including space for community and cultural use, space for entrepreneurs and education
• celebrates the borough’s rich heritage
• supports our challenging climate change targets, with plans to improve connectivity and accessibility

Public consultation

Extensive public consultation and detailed baseline technical research has shaped the masterplan.

• Over 3,300 people responded to a survey in early 2021 and this feedback was used to draft the vision and shape the masterplan.
• Residents, businesses and organisations had the chance to share their views on the draft vision and masterplan during a public consultation in October and November 2021.
• Further public consultation helped develop the Basingstoke Town Centre Car Parking Strategy which was the last stage towards finalising the wider strategy to regenerate the town centre.

Following this, the Basingstoke Town Centre Masterplan, including the vision and the Car Parking Strategy were adopted by Cabinet in December 2022.

Bringing the masterplan principles to life

A series of short term options have been developed to improve and integrate the existing parts of the town centre. One short-term priority is to improve public spaces around the town centre, and work to prioritise the Top of the Town is under way as part of a delivery plan.

Longer term it is envisaged that the transformation of the 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.

The design team is now testing ideas for specific sites in the town centre, such as changes to the roads with the relevant landowners and the highways authority, Hampshire County Council.

The masterplan principles

Following the public consultations, HemingwayDesign used the feedback to shape a vision to guide the strategy.

The vision aims to ensure the town centre is inclusive and diverse with people at its heart through five key principles - place, purpose, prosperity, progressive and participatory.

From the vision, the masterplan for the town centre is based on four principles:

A green town centre

The masterplan will help to meet the borough’s challenging climate change targets and encourage a healthier lifestyle by making the town centre more walkable and cycle-friendly. In addition to existing green spaces such as Eastrop Park and War Memorial Park, the vision is to create a ‘greener’ feel by creating new pockets of green spaces as well as new planting throughout to improve the area’s biodiversity.

A compact town

The existing road network makes car journeys easy. Suggestions in the masterplan include work to reduce car usage in the town centre and promote more sustainable forms of travel. Buses, pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to make direct and easy connections. Options to change the existing road network will continue to be explored with the highways authority, Hampshire County Council.

A resilient town

To ensure the town centre is a vibrant hub during the day and night, the area needs to create opportunities for a range of different uses. Reimagining the current town centre to include more traditional streets and other areas will mean that Basingstoke is not so reliant on the success of retail and can provide space for community and cultural uses, workspace, education and new homes

A unique future

Integrating and embracing the different aspects of Basingstoke’s character will create a dynamic hybrid and deliver places where the uses are not tightly planned or programmed to allow people to contribute their own creativity and enterprise.

Delivery plan

To drive forward change in the Top of the Town while longer term options for the town centre are explored, we have been delivering our action plan which sets out a package of improvements to breathe new life and enhance the vibrancy of the area.

As a priority for the Cabinet, we have been working with businesses and partners to explore issues and solutions to improve the town’s historic heart.

The plan focuses on improvements to make sure the Top of the Town is a welcoming place for residents, businesses and visitors and celebrates the heritage of the area. By investing in the environment and fabric of the area, we hope to see other landlords and landowners work with us and invest in their buildings as part of a concerted effort to improve the Top of the Town.

As part of our action plan for the area, we have:

• refreshed planters with colourful floral arrangements
• repainted safety railings
• jet washed and removed chewing gum from pavements
• installed decorative tree lighting outside The Willis Museum and near The Anvil, with plans to install more lights in the area outside The Anvil
• supported businesses to make improvements to their shop fronts through our dedicated Town and Village Centre Fund, with plans to launch another round of funding for businesses to apply
• made it easier for businesses to have outdoor seating areas by reducing the level of public liability insurance required, in order to support a thriving cafe culture in the Top of the Town

Other measures to support businesses, as part of the introduction of new pavement licences, are also being proposed as part of our draft Furniture on the Highway Licensing Policy 2026 which is currently open for public consultation. This includes:

• new low-cost pavement licences which would be valid for a two-year period for removable outdoor furniture at businesses serving food
• a 25% reduction in one-year permit fees for fixed tables and chairs to support businesses who have already invested in permanent seating areas or are not food venues.
• reducing the level of public liability insurance required.

We are continuing to work with venues in the Top of the Town to encourage more live music to enhance the arts and culture scene in the area. This has led to the creation of Listen Up – a live music event held in March and September in venues across the Top of the Town.

This complements our comprehensive events programme which attracts thousands of visitors to the Top of the Town throughout the year to discover and support businesses.

Accelerating plans for town centre and Basing View

Work to find a partner as part of a new investment partnership to improve sites in the town centre and Basing View is now underway.

Taking forward projects identified in the Town Centre Masterplan, the partnership could pave the way for the creation of mixed-use spaces to support a thriving and modern town centre.

This could include new leisure uses and new homes for all ages to support vibrant town centre living, with easy access to facilities, shops and restaurants, to improve the area, alongside high-quality office space to attract businesses.

Potential opportunities include breathing new life into vacant plots at Basing View as well as the chance to explore how council-owned spaces could be better used.

Following approval by Cabinet at a meeting on 9 December 2025, a selection process to find an investment partner to work with will now begin.