NINETY homes are set to be demolished to make way for 190 planned new homes in Basingstoke.

Basingstoke-based Sentinel Housing Association has submitted a planning application to revamp Freemantle Close, and Taverner Close.

The plan is to replace the demolished 50-year-old buildings with 190 homes, comprising of 62 one and two-bed flats, and 128 two, three, and four-bed houses.

All the homes will be Government-subsided rental properties for people on the borough’s 6,000-strong housing register.

The project has been welcomed by Norden ward councillors George Hood, Paul Harvey, and Laura James who say it will provide the borough with much-needed affordable homes.

“I think it is an excellent scheme,” said Cllr Hood. “It is a scheme that the council, Sentinel, and the residents will be proud of.”

And Cllr James said she hoped the scheme would be a “flagship” example of how to regenerate parts of the town.

“It is going to be something amazing for the community,” Cllr James said. “It is something that is truly good for Norden. I want this to be a flagship of regeneration for this council. I think this is an exciting project and we are going to see something very special developed.”

According to plans submitted to borough council planning bosses, Sentinel plan to wrap the development around a 2.75-hectare park, which will have two kickabout areas, two play areas, and an all-weather playing court.

Should planning permission be granted, building is expected to start by May 2013, and it should be finished by the middle of 2015. A decision whether to grant the go-ahead is expected by early next year.