BASINGSTOKE AREA MEETINGS ROUND UP

MEETING: 13 December 2011 held at Lamb Brooks

 

Meeting chaired by Charles Marchant-White of Clarke and Son, Solicitors.

 

The meeting received a presentation from Simon Hope of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council on the Basing View Development. With the announcement of Muse Developers as the Council's preferred development partner, Basing View covers an area of 65acres of prime office and enterprise space on the eastern side of Basingstoke Town Centre which accounts for 25% of the town's office stock. Currently, there is a 35% vacancy rate, with whole site freehold belonging to the Council. 17 leaseholders on 6 sites pay £2.2m in rent p.a; with over 70 companies employing 4500 people. The development also provides an opportunity for Basing View to be re-positioned in the marketplace as an urban business park which offers high quality buildings close to town centre facilities. Initial development of 700,000sqft over 15 acres should lead to further develop of 1m sqft over the next 15 years including complimentary mixed use development. The phased development at Basing View is not reliant on expensive/uncertain infrastructure. Simon's presentation can be viewed online at: http://www.hampshirechamber.co.uk/docs/Basing View Presentation 13 December 2011.pdf

 

MEETING: 8 November 2011 held at Basingstoke College of Technology

 

Meeting Chaired by Charles Marchant-White, Clarke and Son, Solicitors

 

The meeting received a presentation from Simon Petar, Tesco, and supported by Martin Robeson, Retail Planning Consultant for Tesco and Mike Bedwell of Waterman Boreham Highways Consultants for Tesco. A new Tesco Extra is proposed for Winchester Road, Basingstoke on the brownfield site formerly occupied by Smiths and recently owned by B&Q retail. Tesco's planning application was submitted in 2011; and details 65,000sqft of prime retail space; 500 car parking spaces and creation of 360 new jobs. Store scheduled to open in Spring 2013. Full details of the presentation and main points can be viewed: http://www.hampshirechamber.co.uk/news/North%20Hampshire/1807