CONSTRUCTION work on more than 300 homes in a new Hampshire community has gotten under way.

Housebuilder Bovis Homes has started building the development in North Whiteley with the first residents expected to move in towards the end of the year.

The development is part of Whitely Meadows, a scheme which will see more than 3,500 new homes built, as well as three new schools, a care home, a community centre and shops, creating more than 600 jobs.

The development will also include large areas of open space and retained woodland.

James Dunne, managing director of, Bovis Homes’ Southern Counties region, said: “This is a significant milestone in Bovis Homes’ investment at North Whiteley.

“This is a fantastic location, which is hugely desirable, and we’re looking forward to working alongside the local community, as well as the city and county councils, to deliver more much-needed new homes to the area.

“Showcasing our ‘new-to-market’ Phoenix housing at Whiteley Meadows makes this a flagship development for our region.”

The new homes make up part of the flagship 3,500-home Whiteley Meadows scheme, of which Bovis Homes will deliver 1,702.

Alongside construction of the new homes, £77 million will be invested to support local infrastructure.

This includes improvement works to local roads, funding and construction of educational and community facilities such as allotments, playparks and fields.