BASINGSTOKE is set to get a cash boost from the government to deliver a new garden town in the borough.

As part of an ambitious new proposal by the government to deliver 155,000 new homes across the county, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced an injection of £2.5 million for nine locally-led garden town developments.

In this announcement, the communities secretary Sajid Javid said that £95,000 would be allocated to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to deliver 10,000 new homes.

These homes will be embedded into existing planning developments, which already make up part of the borough council's local plan,such as the 3,200 homes which are planned for Manydown

The new funding will support local authorities and communities in delivering ambitious proposals, speeding up the progress of developments through additional dedicated resources and expertise.

The government is encouraging different and ambitious solutions to fix the housing market and as part of this, garden towns and villages are being promoted by local authorities and the government.

Mr Javid said: “Locally-led garden towns have enormous potential to deliver the homes that communities need. This new funding will help support the construction of more than 155,000 homes in nine places across the country.

“New communities not only deliver homes, but also bring new jobs and facilities and a big boost to local economies.”

Garden towns being supported by the government are committed to delivering high quality, well-planned and well-designed new communities that will stand out as examples of good development in years to come.

Along with Basingstoke, other locations which are set to receive the funding are Bicester, Didcot, Otterpool Park in Kent, Aylesbury, Taunton, Harlow-Gilston, North Northamptonshire and North Essex.