FIRST time buyers and people wanting to move up the property ladder in the Basingstoke area are being invited to find out more at a free Help to Buy event.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will host the information event, in partnership with Help to Buy South, at the Civic Offices in London Road on Thursday, 21 February from 3pm to 8pm.

People are invited to drop in to get free advice about the government’s Help to Buy and Shared Ownership schemes. There will also be information on other schemes, affordability, eligibility and how to apply.

As well as advisers from Help to Buy South, there will also be representatives from housing associations, independent financial advisers and building societies on hand to answer questions.

There will be a chance to find out more about the progress of the Manydown development, where there is an outline application for a mix of up to 3,520 new homes.

The council’s deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for housing Councillor Terri Reid said: “We’ve held a number of Help to Buy information events and all of these have proved extremely popular, with hundreds of people attending to find out more about what’s on offer and how to apply.

“There is a real demand for information about these schemes, therefore we were keen to hold another one to ensure those people who are currently looking to buy a home can find out what options are available to them.”

For more information, go to www.basingstoke.gov.uk/helptobuy.