Plans for the first major development as part of Whitehill & Bordon’s regeneration have been given the green light.
East Hampshire District Council’s Planning Committee has approved plans for the scheme at Quebec Park for 100 new state-of-the-art zero-carbon homes and 100 new jobs.
This marks a major milestone in regenerating Whitehill & Bordon and partners can now move on from planning the new development to delivering real change on the ground. The next stage is to agree the necessary legal agreements so planning permission can be formally granted.
Quebec Park was bought by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation last year and it selected local development company Radian to transform the former barracks.
The site is being regenerated to set the standard of future development within Whitehill & Bordon and will also be a catalyst for further investment in the town. As well as the much-needed new homes, the 3.5 ha site will also feature a business hub and a café.
Following public consultation earlier this year, plans were changed so that there are more parking spaces on the site for residents, visitors and business hub users. Two buildings (the Chieftain and Centurian buildings) will be retained and refurbished to provide flexible, cost effective work space for start-up businesses.
The homes will be a mixture which range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. They will be built to the highest sustainable standards with solar panels, home office facilities, triple glazed windows, cycle storage, water butts, composting equipment, high-levels of insulation as well as measures to reduce overheating. Energy and water use will be monitored by ‘smart meters’ which give comprehensive information about the amount of energy being used which will help to promote savings.
The converted buildings will be linked by a glazed atrium – which will house a café and meeting spaces at the heart of the development. This will be linked to an existing underpass by an outdoor plaza and events space.
Radian is also looking to provide training and apprenticeship positions on the site and will prioritise such opportunities for current residents and former military personnel.
Bordon Inclosure, an area of woodland next to the site, has just received planning approval to transform it into a SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) which means that it will be improved andmade more accessible to residentsfor walking and cycling.
Cllr Richard Millard, Deputy Leader of East Hampshire District Council and Portfolio Holder for Commercial Contracts, said: “This is a really significant milestone in the regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon because it is the first major development site to come before the planning committee. This site will be transformed into a thriving community with homes and jobs set in a really attractive location right next to the woods.”
Cllr Sally Pond, chair of Whitehill Town Council’s planning committee, said: “Whitehill Town Council is fully supportive of this project as it will set the standard of design for other sites in the town. We think that all aspects of the development of this site have been carefully considered and because of this it will be a really attractive place that Bordon can be really proud of.”
James Rowley, HCA area manager, added: “This milestone vividly demonstrates the progress we have made with partners, coming just 18 months after we bought this site. It enables partners to take significant steps towards regenerating Whitehill & Bordon in a way that will raise the bar in terms of the development of the rest of the project. We have worked successfully to bring a development partner on board and worked with local people to produce plans that have been supported by the council. Now the hard work really starts, and I look forward to seeing this exciting and important development take shape in the months ahead.”
Andrea Smith, Director of Development and New Business at Radian, said: “We strongly believe that our vision for Quebec Park will help to inform the future development of the townand that it will be a very desirable place to live, work and play, both for the existing residents and for those who will aspire to live here in the future. Radian is proud to be leading the first phase of this transformational development.”