The minister’s visit followed the formal start of construction at Quebec Park, Bordon, where the first 100 of the town’s scheduled 3,350 homes will be built.
East Hampshire District Council said the ministerial visit marked a “huge and exciting milestone” in the transformation and cemented Whitehill and Bordon’s place on the Government’s radar.
Mr Lewis was invited to see how the town will be regenerated with new homes, a new town centre, new schools, health facilities, shops, sports pitches and, it is hoped, 5,500 new jobs.
After touring Quebec Park, he visited Louisburg Barracks, where an additional 500 new homes and an estimated 500 new jobs will be created.
He also met two apprentices who will be learning construction skills on the site - 13 construction apprenticeships will be created as work progresses.
“It’s great to be here today to see work getting under way on these new homes,” said Minister of State for Housing and Planning Mr Lewis, elected the Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth in 2010.
“This site is a fantastic example of how Government can work with local partners to bring forward surplus public-sector land for new housing and jobs.
“And we’re not stopping there. We’ve named the site as one of our flagship Housing Zones, meaning more support to deliver the homes that hard-working families rightly deserve.”
Ferris Cowper, leader of East Hampshire District Council, added: “Whitehill and Bordon’s transformation is one of the country’s most significant regeneration projects and so starting to build homes is not only a huge milestone for the town, but it is also of national significance and that’s why the minister has visited us today.
“Today marks the start of much-needed homes being built, but the regeneration of the town is about so much more than just homes. It is about creating jobs and opportunities. It is about ensuring the town has state-of-the-art health facilities, top-class sports and leisure facilities, top educational opportunities and beautiful green spaces.
“And I am pleased that our plan to get infrastructure into the town before homes has also been happening - for example the construction of the road is well underway.
“Partners are 100 per cent committed to working together to ensure Whitehill and Bordon is given a new lease of life as Hampshire’s green town. There is an enormous amount of work happening in the town and you can really see things starting to change on the ground which is tremendously exciting. I hope residents are starting to see their town’s transformation unfold on a daily basis into a town which will be the envy of the region.“
Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire, said the regeneration was at a “very exciting stage”. “I am so pleased the housing minister was able to come and see for himself, and give his personal encouragement to the councillors and officers, developers, craftsmen and apprentices, who together are making this a reality,” he added. “It is entirely right that employment space comes from the start, parallel with housing; and the Enterprise Zone designation for the town has been a great boost already.”
The first site being transformed is Quebec Park, which is being developed by Eastleigh-based housing group Radian to provide 100 zero-carbon homes.
As part of the development, it is said there will be 100 jobs created. The existing Chieftain and Centurion barracks will be converted into a community enterprise hub, which will be low-cost accommodation for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
It is hoped these buildings will accommodate about 50 jobs and a further 50 will be created through a new community cafe.
At Louisburg, Broxhead House will be transformed into a Business and Enterprise Centre and a Future Skills Centre (to provide vocational training with a focus on construction skills) will also be built. Over coming years a further 2,400 new homes and a new town centre will be created at Prince Philip Barracks.
Tim Colman, of the Whitehill and Bordon Strategy Board representing the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Whitehill and Bordon is firmly on the Government’s radar as it is part of a new Enterprise Zone and this gives us a real opportunity to entice businesses into the area. The Enterprise Zone means businesses which move to the town before 2022 will not have to pay business rates for five years which makes the town a really attractive location to set up shop. But it is not just the Enterprise Zone which makes Whitehill and Bordon a great place for businesses, it is also its strategic location, its close proximity to universities, its links to nearby economic hubs and the huge public and private sector investment, totalling almost £120m, which is being invested in the town. All these elements combined make it an excellent place to do business.”
Kevin Bourner, head of area for the Homes and Communities Agency, which owns the Louisburg and Quebec sites, said: “The HCA’s aim is to ensure surplus public-sector land is brought forward quickly to help get houses built across the country. By acquiring Louisburg and Quebec Barracks we could use our funding and development expertise to get these challenging sites ready for house building, helping to kick start the regeneration of the town. We are delighted to work with Barratt Developments and Radian, who will build more than 600 homes across the two sites.”
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