WHAT is in store for Whitehill and Bordon during 2016? That is the question to be answered at the next Community Forum in the town.

The past 12 months saw significant plans snowball as work to regenerate the town got underway. And East Hampshire District Council has said that in 2016 there will be “no let up in pace”.

At the forum meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm at the Forest Community Centre, residents will see detailed plans, meet the people who will make things happen and debate with a panel of representatives from the district council and development companies.

This year, like 2015, has a lot pencilled in. New homes will be built, work on the relief road will continue, the Bordon Inclosure will be completed and the Garrison Swimming Pool retained for public use.

As part of the town’s regeneration, the district council has long aspired to create 5,500 new jobs, to be provided in tandem with the housing expansion. And some of these, the council says, will be coming to fruition over the next 12 months, along with numerous training initiatives for people from the area.

Now the Army has formally departed Bordon, Prince Philip Barracks will steadily transform, initially as a venue for community events but later to host a significant share of the new houses and facilities.

Yvonne Parker-Smith, chairman of the district council’s Community Forum and the Conservative councillor for Lindford, said: “2015 was an incredible year for Whitehill and Bordon. It’s going to be hard to top a year like that, but 2016 already looks like it is going to be another big year for the town.

“Come along to the forum and find out what’s in store, meet the people behind the plans and see for yourself what the next 12 months will bring.”

In January work on the Bordon Inclosure Suitable Alternative Natural Green space will be completed and management of the land will be handed over to Whitehill Town Council.

The district council, the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company (developer of the Prince Philip Barracks, Technical Training Area and the Bordon Officers Sports Club sites) and Whitehill Town Council will join forces to keep the Bordon Garrison swimming pool open “until at least the end of 2016”. The pool will officially open on January 26.

Work on the first homes at Louisburg Barracks is to start in June and a show home is expected at Quebec Park by November.

During 2016 the second, southern phase of the relief road will begin.

Said to be a crucial piece of infrastructure for the regeneration, the road will provide access to the 500 new homes at Louisburg. The road will be delivered with a wide range of traffic-calming measures on the A325, like surface alterations and cycle paths.

As a significant proportion of vehicles on the A325 is through traffic, it was felt that an alternative should be provided. Taking traffic off the A325 will, it is hoped, create a “shared space” and make life easier for other road users and pedestrians.

In turn this will reduce the east-west severance in Whitehill and Bordon and pave the way for a “thriving” new town centre.

The Homes and Communities Agency has committed £5.5m to delivering the first phase (northern stretch) of the road, which is being managed by the county council and built by Raymond Brown.

The Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership has also signed off a further £17.5m funding for phase two (southern stretch) of the road. Once complete, the road will run from the north of the town, through the garrison sites, and use part of the disused railway route. It will connect with the A325 and continue to the Liphook Road junction.

The regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon will see 3,350 new homes, an estimated 5,500 new jobs, a new town centre, two schools and leisure facilities.

The forum will also hear a briefing on the district council’s draft budget proposals and financial projections for 2016-2017.