A PUBLIC consultation on plans to build 250 new homes on a Basingstoke golf course has begun.

Plans for the new housing development at Weybrook Park Golf Club have been exhibited by housebuilder Bewley Homes, prior to it submitting a planning application to the borough council.

Bewley Homes want to offer a mix of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom, energy-efficient homes with electric car charging points.

Forty per cent of the new housing would be allocated for affordable homes.

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The development will also include natural green space and equipped play areas along with a community orchard and new walking and cycling routes.

It will provide new connections to the existing footpath network, creating tree-lined streets and a new pedestrian and cycle connection to link the existing footpath to Rooksdown Lane.

A new roundabout junction would also be created from the A340 Aldermaston Road.

The housebuilder believes the site will assist with Basingstoke’s housing needs in the short term as well as open up private land for use by all residents.

The homes will be designed to cater for first-time buyers and young families.

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Bewley Homes, based near Tadley, has been engaging with residents and key stakeholders at a public exhibition.

Andy Morris, strategic land director at Bewley Homes, said: “Bewley Homes have been building in the Basingstoke area for over three decades and have a strong reputation building quality homes and thriving communities.

“There are a number of key reasons why locals are supporting our application. The first being, it will provide much-needed housing for the area. Secondly, it provides financial security to Weybrook Park Golf Club who will be able to improve their facilities, providing the Golf Club with long-term financial stability.”

Mr Morris added: “We are not just about building houses. The Bewley ethos is for responsible development and building communities that look just as good decades later. Our developments stand the test of time which is why Bewley is widely considered as the preferred developer in the region.

“We are pleased with the support for our plans we have received from the general public and members of the golf club.”

David Smith, spokesperson and former chairman at Weybrook Park Golf Club, said: “This is a positive development for the golf club. If the plans were approved, we will take ownership of our fantastic 18-hole west golf course and we can invest to improve it, as well as securing our future.”

Responding to reports that ecology on the golf course will be affected by any plans, Mr Smith added: “Our greenkeeper Adam Olliver won Greenkeeper of the Year in Conservation Golf awards this year which is testimony to the on-going work we have been doing on the course.

"I completely disagree that there will be a loss of ecology. In fact, completely the opposite. Our on-going conservation projects and initiatives resulted in the club being a finalist in England Golf’s Club of the Year in 2022. We have more initiatives and projects planned.”

Bewley is now considering all the feedback received and an outline planning application will be submitted in the coming months.

As part of the proposals, the golf club will lose four holes (26 acres) of its 27 holes while retaining 206 acres.

Weybrook Park said 97 per cent of its voting members supported the ceding of the four holes because the benefits are expected to secure the long-term future of the club.

The arrangement will provide additional funds for the golf club to continue to improve its infrastructure, and the retained course is set to “reinforce the countryside gap between Basingstoke and Sherborne St John”.

The exhibition boards can be viewed at bewleyinbasingstoke.co.uk.