A HOUSING association is planning to build seven affordable houses with private gardens on a controversial site in Basingstoke, it has been revealed.

Sovereign is currently preparing a proposal for two-storey affordable houses at 180 Culver Road in Kings Furlong, according to Brookvale and Kings Furlong ward councillor Sam Jeans who took the initiative to turn the vacant building into family homes.

This is the site where there was a previous controversial plan to build a 23-bedroom facility for homeless people. 

The proposal to build the halfway house, which was put forward by homeless organisation Two Saints, would have seen 180 Culver Road knocked down and replaced with a new accommodation block.

READ MORE: Halfway house plans in 180 Culver Road rejected

However, it was rejected by the council after hundreds of neighbours raised concerns about drugs and violence. 

After Two Saints confirmed it would not appeal against the council decision, Cllr Jeans asked cabinet member Cllr Samuel Carr to investigate an alternative affordable homes regeneration proposal for the site.

Based on this request, the borough and the county council officers reached an agreement with Sovereign on a plan to regenerate the site with a new affordable housing scheme.

Cllr Carr said the proposal is set to be submitted in spring, but there will be a public consultation first. 

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Meanwhile, Cllr Jeans shared her “absolute delight” in the new plans.

She told the Gazette: “The plan of having a homeless shelter was not great in that location. But after two years of campaigning, I’m absolutely delighted with the outcome and I'm very much looking forward to seeing the plans.

“The longer the current building stays, the longer it stays a vacant property. It's at risk of being vandalised, children jumping on the roof and the alarms regularly going off. The new plan will just draw a line under all the problems.”

Kenton Ashforth, who lives next door to the site with his three daughters, also shared his happiness after hearing of the new plans.

He said: “We're at 27 months now since the Two Saints plan came around to us. It will be good to finalise the new plan and get on with our lives. Cllr Sam Jeans and the council team have put a lot of work into this.

“The building next door is an utter wreck. Something needs to happen. I haven’t seen the new plans yet. But what I know is it's two-story residential. That to me seems ideal. I look forward to seeing the plans.”