BASINGSTOKE council will hand over some of its land to the county council for free in order to facilitate improvement works to Brighton Hill roundabout.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's cabinet agreed last week to hand over a small parcel of land between the roundabout, which is due to be redeveloped later this year, and Brighton Hill retail park.

The authority will give the land to Hampshire County Council, the highways authority, for free, saying that the land had no value for development.

It is a small, 238 square metre portion of land, with another 306 square metre portion of land to be licensed to HCC for use during the roundabout's construction.

The land is necessary to allow for the carriageway and roundabouts to be widened, and the county council requested that it be handed over to them for free.

BDBC agreed to do this based on the "economic and social benefits and inward investment that will result from the completed scheme".

It comes after the cabinet decided to hand over its portion of the Camrose ground to HCC to facilitate the controversial link road, before those plans were dropped last year.

Speaking at last week's meeting, Cllr Hannah Golding, the council's cabinet member for economic development, said: "These proposals have my support because they enable major highways improvements planned by Hampshire County Council to the A30 south west gateway to Basingstoke.

"Brighton Hill roundabout remains a key part of our road network and residents using it frequently experience long queues of traffic which will only increase."

She labelled it a "key contribution" to the £20 million project.

The project is being funded by an £11.65 million investment from the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, as well as £7.65 million from developer contributions and Hampshire County Council.

The decision from councillors on the cabinet also saw them endorse the updated plans, with deputy leader Cllr Simon Bound saying that whilst the two years of road works "will not be without its pain", but said it would be worth it.

"We know Basingstoke is famed for its roundabouts so this is a significant moment for us.

"To finish the programme with one of the largest and most important schemes is significant.

"I think a town of our size, many of them would be really grateful for the level of investment we have had in infrastructure that frankly we take for granted."