MORE than 200 people attended a community consultation to ponder the early phases of long-term development plans in the town.

The event, hosted by the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company at Prince Philip Barracks, saw the company showcase four specific elements of the project, with key members of the team and partners available to answer questions and explain the scheme.

There was also the chance to have another look at the masterplan for the entire regeneration project.

Residents were able to view and discuss the emerging detailed proposals for the first phases of Prince Phillip Barracks’ redevelopment, including plans for: the first section of housing provided by Taylor Wimpey/Dorchester Regeneration; Oxney Moss Water Course; the key link roads; infrastructure, and the Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club Pavilion and sports facilities.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of these early plans is the delivery of 180 new homes at the barracks, including a range of family housing (with one to four bedrooms); affordable homes; starter homes and apartments.

Access to this residential space is provided via the southern section of the relief road, currently being constructed.

In total, 2,400 homes are being delivered as part of the project, and this first parcel will become the new “front door” to the town for visitors arriving from the south and west.

Therefore, the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company said it was “vital that the standard of development here is set suitably high to reinforce the ambition of Whitehill and Bordon as a place of change”.

Key features of this early housing include a “generous level of parking”; the “retention of the trees and hedgerows along the boundaries of the site”, and the introduction of “extensive and attractive new landscaping” to transform the former military land.

A new link road connecting the relief road with the proposed new town centre and Budds Lane was also exhibited at the event.

This link will also deliver pedestrian and cycle access from the centre of Whitehill and Bordon to the Hogmoor Inclosure via a so-called green link.

Oxney Moss, a former canalised drain, is described as “a blue thread” that runs through the entire length of the development.

This water course is set to become “a new and naturalised feature” forming a spine along the central park area, which will run north to south.

However, as its character is “not universal”, there will be parts where it feels “slightly more formal” and its edges more manicured and areas where it assumes “a genuinely wild and natural character”. At any rate, it forms a natural foundation, around which features of the development can be built.

The transformation of sporting facilities at the Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club (BOSC) will include a new pavilion, improved tennis courts, petanque (boules) courts and a bowling green alongside reseeded sports pitches.

The existing sports pavilion at BOSC will be replaced with a new, larger building.

This new cricket pavilion will be two storeys high to allow for additional function rooms on the upper floor in order to increase the “versatility” of the space venue.

The Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company aims to submit four planning applications later this month covering the residential development, as well as separate applications for infrastructure including: the link road connecting the Hogmoor Inclosure to the town centre; engineering works to Oxney Moss, and the sporting facilities BOSC.

Saturday’s event saw attendees including councillors from East Hampshire District Council, town mayor Sally Pond, residents and business owners from the Whitehill and Bordon community.

The Regeneration Company commented after the event that there was “great positivity and feedback around the plans and proposals”.

There will be another community consultation later in the year (the date is to be confirmed) and this will focus on the plans for the town centre.

James Child, project lead at the Regeneration Company, said: “It was great to see so many people attend the consultation and we were delighted to talk through the proposals with the local community and showcase the areas for the first phase of housing, the BOSC pavilion, infrastructure including road networks and the Oxney Moss water course.

“We are pleased with the reaction from the local community, who shared lots of positive feedback, and we look forward to showcasing the plans for the town centre at our next consultation.”