BASINGSTOKE will benefit from 2,500 new homes and 2,500 new jobs if plans for a new environmentally-conscious housing development are given the go-ahead.

That is the message from the the figureheads behind Lord Lymington’s proposed project to build “genuinely affordable housing” on his 302hectre estate which lies to the south of Basingstoke and has been in his family for 600 years. 

The Upper Swallick garden village plans have been met with fierce opposition from residents in nearby Cliddesden who fear proposals will affect their views of the beautiful countryside and could impact house prices. So far, 6,500 people have signed a petition against development. 

But Lord Lymington has said he wants to address the housing crisis in Basingstoke. 

You can read the full story in this week’s edition of The Gazette. Also in this week's paper:

  • A mass testing programme is to be rolled out across Hampshire this week with a Basingstoke library being turned into a site for rapid tests. 
  • Hundreds of people are volunteering at Covid vaccinations centres to help NHS staff make the process as efficient as possible.
  • A pensioner living with a chronic illness was left feeling upset after he was challenged for not wearing a face mask by a woman in Tesco.
  • A senior carer at Marnel Lodge Care Home explains how she believes the vaccine saved her life.
  • A care home provider of a Basingstoke home which declared an outbreak of Covid has said it is considering whether staff who have refused a vaccine for non-medical reasons can look after residents.  
  • Ten members of borough council staff are at risk of redundancy as part of a raft of cuts to services to balance the authority’s budget. 
  • Estate agents are advertising flats for sale in a high-risk building without telling the public that they aren’t eligible for mortgages, The Gazette can reveal. 
  • A landowner has threatened to block residents’ cars in and charge them to have them released.
  • PLUS: All the latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court.
  • Two pages of your letters to the editor.
  • Pictures: Basingstoke Buildings, as captured as part of this month's Camera Club theme
  • All the latest news from our communities.
  • An eight-page puzzle special.
  • An eight-page children's activity special.
  • Business news.
  • Three pages of entertainment news.
  • Four pages of sports news. And much more!

To arrange a home delivery of the Gazette or Advertiser call 0800 7314 900 or 0845 7078 150 or email deliveries@newsquest.co.uk. If we do not cover your area, we will advise you with details of other available agents.

If you live outside our circulation area you can still receive our newspapers through a postal subscription order. To subscribe to the Basingstoke Gazette or Andover Advertiser visit basingstokegazette.co.uk/subscribe or andoveradvertiser.co.uk/subscribe or call 0800 7314900. You can also sign up for a delivered subscription here: https://adbooker.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/store/andbassubs/.