THE development which is set to deliver more that 3,500 homes in Basingstoke could be set to gain another financial boost from the government.

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid announced yesterday (Wednesday, 21 March) that the Manydown development is being shortlisted for the next stage of Housing Infrastructure Fund bidding.

Manydown's importance as a strategic housing site has been recognised already under the government’s Garden Town programme.  

Led by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, the bid will join 44 projects from across the country going through to the next round seeking support from the £4.1 billion Forward Funding pot for the large-scale vital infrastructure needed for new communities.

The announcement comes shortly after Manydown was awarded £10.3 million in the first wave of smaller scale support from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund in February.

In his announcement, Mr Javid said: “This government is committed to working with communities to build the homes this country needs and ensure the right infrastructure is in place to support them.

“We will now be working closely with 45 areas shortlisted to apply for government investment, including Hampshire. These key projects will help unlock more much needed homes by delivering the roads, schools and doctor’s surgeries that communities need.”

The next move will be the co-development stage, where government officials will work with the Manydown Project Team to further develop the funding proposals, with successful bids set to be announced from autumn 2018 onwards.

An outline planning application for the northern part of Manydown was submitted by the two councils in March 2017, following extensive public involvement in drawing up a masterplan.

This sets out the main principles for developing a thriving new community of up to 3,500 new homes, businesses, shops and community facilities, two new primary schools and land for a new secondary school, and a 250-acre country park. The application is now under consideration.

Cabinet lead on Manydown for the borough council, Cllr John Izett, said: “Basingstoke is very clearly seen by the government as a key, reliable partner in the South East able to provide the new houses the borough, and the country as a whole, needs urgently. This funding would make a significant difference to helping to pay for the substantial upfront infrastructure costs of the development.

“Working together, the two councils, alongside our accomplished development partner Urban&Civic and backed substantially by the government, will be able to deliver a new well-designed and built community at Manydown that will benefit both existing and new residents.”