THERE have been mixed reactions from opposition leaders to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision to terminate an agreement with a major developer for the regeneration of Basing View.

The council has decided not to extend its agreement with Muse Developments after partnering for more than a decade.

While Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group leader Cllr Paul Harvey called the decision “a good thing”, Labour leader Cllr Andrew McCormick said it should be taken with “a pinch of salt”.

By terminating the agreement with Muse, the council is hoping to explore opportunities to work with other development partners to deliver further office schemes in Basing View.

READ MORE: Council NOT to extend agreement with Muse for Basing View development

Cllr Harvey backed this decision and said the partnership has been “bitterly disappointing”.

“All of the ambition that they had back nearly a decade ago has just not been realised,” he said.

“Basing View is so important to the borough because it's our premier business park. And we need to have a really strong vision and a masterplan that is believable to deliver the best for the businesses and the security there. They [Muse] have done a few things, but there's an awful lot more that has not happened.”

“Now we need to know what the council is going to do that breathes a new life into Basing View and gives us a really strong message to say ‘we're open for business’.”

However, Cllr McCormick questioned the decision and said “there's more to it than meets the eye”.

“I just get the impression that there's some very sloppy decision-making going on at the moment, and the council leaders seem incapable of getting anything done.

“I would take what the cabinet members saying with a pinch of salt.”

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Confirming that the partnership is ending Muse Developments director Chris Scott said his firm is disappointed with the impact the pandemic has had on the ability to bring forward new, best-in-class employment space in Basing View.

He also said the council’s wish to focus on attracting more speculative office development in Basingstoke, unfortunately, does not fit with Muse’s medium-term strategy.

Cllr Harvey said this is a reflection of how the council's just been going wrong over the years.

“The council needs to take a lead to listen to the market to understand what businesses want. The world has changed and we have to respond to that. Don't forget, our economy is based on our small enterprises driving the local economy. And we need that really strong healthy local economy that's well thought out.

“We should be able to say to come to Basingstoke because we can offer you excellent facilities and a really good town centre and a really strong communication link. Now, if the council can get that right, and they clearly haven't been successful at doing that over all these years, then we're going to be in a really good place. But it's a real challenge.

“Muse hadn't done it. The council hasn't done it. So the pressure is on. But now we have got to seize the moment. We have to make Basingstoke strong for our business community.”