Upper Swallick public consultations on 2,500-home development

As previously reported, proposals to create a new 'garden village', between Cliddesden and Ellisfield, just south of Basingstoke, were included in Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's (BDBC) draft local plan.

The proposals, known as Upper Swallick, include 2,500 homes, primary schools, community amenities and publicly accessible open space, were met with fierce opposition from residents who claim it would "destroy" the village, and "open the floodgates" for further development south of the M3.

Now, a public engagement exercise is being launched to consult on the plans ahead of submission of an outline planning application.

Indicative masterplan for Upper Swallick (Image: Upper Swallick Garden Village)

Two drop-in events are being held this month, where more information about the proposals will be shared. The first will take place on Wednesday, February 18, between 3.30pm and 7.30pm, in Cliddesden Village Hall, and the second will be held on Saturday, February 28, between 10am and 1pm, in St Mark’s Church, Homestead Road.

Further information on the development and the consultation can be found at www.UpperSwallickConsultation.com

Viscount Lymington, who owns the land which is promoted by Farleigh North Farm, said: “I am passionate about creating a high-quality and attractive community that is respectful of its landscape setting and surrounding communities.

"Reflecting this, our proposals for Upper Swallick have been landscape-led and include significant new areas of open space for leisure, wildlife and sport.

"It has been designed to be a highly walkable place, with local facilities and services within the village to meet people’s day-to-day needs.

"Meanwhile, the new link road will ensure that it is well connected to Basingstoke town centre through new and improved bus, walking and cycling routes.”   

Developers say that Upper Swallick is "well placed" to provide new homes in close proximity to the borough’s largest settlement, "where both housing demand and need, is greatest".

They say that the focus will be on placemaking through "good design and high standards," and the new settlement will be "well-integrated" with the existing landscape, while providing "ecological enhancements and green corridors" that link new and existing features. 

Developers say the proposals are shaped by a "landscape-led" approach to ensure Upper Swallick is "distinct from and sensitive to" the rural character of surrounding villages.

The development would deliver "significant investment" in transport infrastructure, including the creation of a new link road, improving connectivity across the M3, together with new public transport, walking and cycling routes. "These measures will benefit new and existing residents alike."

They added that the site will play a "key role" in helping the Borough deliver its housing numbers.

The consultations come despite huge opposition, with a petition signed by 11,701 people fighting to protect the countryside area from development and "engulfing" the village of Cliddesden.

Speaking previously to the Gazette, Alan Tyler, chair of Cliddesden Parish Council, said: "We want the council to reconsider because once the M3 is breached, the whole countryside to the South East of Basingstoke becomes a target for developers.

"If Basingstoke and Deane wish to hold on to the countryside they have, breaching the M3 is the final straw.

"We are not against building in the countryside, but it is the amount of building that concerns us. In the last five years, we have had 20 to 30 new houses built in Cliddesden."