THE new housing minister was welcomed to Basingstoke to hear about the town’s ambitious growth.

Dominic Raab MP was joined by Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller on Thursday, 25 January.

During the visit the Housing Minister had a briefing about plans for housebuilding, including affordable housing and future economic development at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The briefing heard by Mr Raab and Mrs Miller was presented by the leader of the borough council, Councilor Clive Sanders, who was joined by deputy leader Cllr Terri Reid and the borough council’s chief executive Mel Barrett.

Cllr Mel Kendall from Hampshire County Council was also in attendance.  

Mrs Miller said: “I was delighted that Basingstoke was one of the first local authorities to be able to brief the new Housing Minister about their ambitious plans for development.

“His visit also gave us the opportunity to highlight the importance of investing in the infrastructure needed for the local community and to support the new housing.”

After the briefing with councilors, the two MPs visited the Winklebury Centre, off Winklebury Way to hear about the plans for regeneration in the area.

With a lot of ambitious developments across the borough including Manydown which will 3,200 homes delivered, the development in Minchens Lane, Bramley where 200 homes are being built and Hounsome Fields, in Beggarwood where there will be a 750 home development.