IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS
Local Plan Consultation
Consultation will soon begin on the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan (Plan Period 2024-2042). The Local Plan sets out where future development such as housing, warehousing, employment, infrastructure, and community facilities, will be located across the Borough over the coming years.
The Borough Council’s first round of public consultation on the emerging Local Plan begins on 28th November 2025 and will run for six weeks (including Christmas and the New Year) and North Waltham residents are strongly encouraged to submit their views.
Why is a Local Plan needed?
National policy requires an increase in the delivery of housing numbers. Under this policy, Basingstoke and Deane are required to deliver approximately 21,000 new homes by 2040. Despite its own concerns regarding housing numbers and the lack of associated infrastructure, the Borough Council has had to progress the current draft Local Plan to facilitate this housing requirement. Without an up-to-date Local Plan in place, the Borough would be exposed to speculative, unplanned development led by developers, leaving local communities with far less ability to shape outcomes.
What development is being proposed near North Waltham?
- Oakdown Warehouses (approved) – Eight warehouses totalling around 920,000 sq ft of logistics space
- Southern Manydown – proposed 2,750 homes along the A30 from North Waltham (Trenchards) Lane towards Maidenthorne Lane (6,000 in total after the plan period)
- Southern Manydown – proposed industrial/logistics area (between proposed houses and hospital sites)
- New hospital and health campus on the A30 adjacent to Maidenthorne Lane
- Popham Airfield – proposed 1,800 houses (4,250 in total after the plan period)
- Popham Logistics Park at West Farm on the A30/A33
Why should you submit your views? Given the scale of what is being proposed, it is essential that every resident takes part in the consultation. While it is understood that the overall housing requirement cannot be challenged through this consultation, there is scope for residents to highlight the cumulative impacts of the proposed developments.
The Parish Council will submit a formal response, but this counts as only one submission. Individual replies from residents carry equal weight, and higher participation ensures that local concerns cannot be overlooked.
Your response does not need to be technical. A short comment expressing your views or highlighting any concerns is sufficient. What matters most is that residents contribute, ensuring our community is properly represented.
What the Parish Council is doing:
In addition to our own lobbying efforts, the Parish Council will do our best to provide North Waltham residents with correct and up-to date information on the Local Plan and consultation as we receive it.
To start, we have invited Cllr Paul Harvey, Leader at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to speak to North Waltham residents on Tuesday 16th December at 7.30pm at the Rathbone Pavilion. He will provide a summary of the Local Plan update, what it means for North Waltham and answer any questions you may have.
Following the meeting, the Parish Council will issue a bullet point summary of what we believe are the key points in the Local Plan that will affect North Waltham. Residents are welcome to refer to this when making their own comments.
Information about the Local Plan and consultation will be circulated on the Village News Whatsapp group, Village Website (http://www.northwaltham.net/) and Facebook group.
