WORK to bring more than 3,500 new homes to Basingstoke is another step closer, members of the borough council’s cabinet have heard.

Members of the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council cabinet agreed to formally enter into an agreement with its preferred contractor for the Manydown development, Urban&Civic, partnered with the Wellcome Trust.

During the meeting, councillors also agreed to the terms of the business plan for the development, agreeing for a £200,000 loan as an advanced payment to finance the operation of creating the new ‘garden town.’

Cabinet member for regeneration and property at the borough council, Councillor John Izett, said: “This is a major development in our borough that has many complex aspects to it.

“In coming to an agreement with Urban&Civic it shows that we are making the right steps forward.

“We understand that it is all taking a bit of time but it is important that we get this right.”

Cllr Izett also praised the inclusion of Wellcome Trust, a charity which campaigns for better science and health research.

He added: “It is great to have the Wellcome Trust on board with this project and will help oversee the green initiatives we want to introduce on Manydown.

“Wellcome’s support for the Manydown development is a major and highly positive endorsement of the project and its objectives.”

During the meeting, as well as discussions of the overall project, which are being over seen by the borough council and Hampshire County Council, there were talks of how the finished development could look.

Leader of the borough council, Cllr Ken Rhatigan, said as part of a green strategy, the Manydown development will feature a country park.

He said: “The park will be a big part of Manydown’s identity. We have to ensure all the infrastructure, like roads and schools are in place but also the amenities around the development.

“We need to let residents know we are in the business of building communities not just building houses.”

Cllr Izett also outlined a potential timeline of how the project could move forward now that the formal agreement with Urban&Civic has been agreed.

He said that a planning application is due to be submitted in the autumn, with the hope that the first houses are built in 2020.