CONCERNS have been raised about the number of warehouses proposed as part of a plan which sets out where building could take place in Basingstoke.

As previously reported, government calculations suggest as many as 17,820 new homes need to be built in the borough by the end of 2039.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council documents reveal that the authority needs to build 7,703 houses more than it currently has in the pipeline.

It's part of the update process of a document called the local plan, which sets the rules surrounding the development of the borough and can be used by developers as a blueprint on where and how to build houses.

READ MORE: Residents make a stand against homes in east of Basingstoke

The borough council’s current target of 850 homes a year, which is based on a national formula set by the central government, would be cut to under 700 each year for five years from 2025 under a fresh ‘stepped trajectory’ approach put forward by the new administration.

The discussion about the plan contined at the council’s economic, planning and housing committee meeting held on Thursday, September 28.

Councillors discussed the spatial strategy which sets out where homes could be built.

The former leader of the council, Simon Minas-Bound shared his concerns about more warehouses being built in the borough.

As it stands there are three sites with proposed warehouse logistics and distribution including Southern Manydown, Popham Garden Village and Oakdown Farm.

He said that residents were told at a community chat held by Basingstoke's MP Maria Miller on Tuesday, September 26 that new warehousing would not be allocated in the plan.

He said: "Cllr Gavin James went to Maria's community chat and he stated very publically that this administration would not allocate any new warehousing sites in the local plan update.

“That was almost met with applause and a standing ovation as you can imagine the people from Dummer and the campaign groups and the parish councillors on that part of town who were in attendance.”

Cllr Sean Dillow agreed with the statements made.

SEE ALSO: Borough council's plan to slow down house building debated

He said: "I have just looked online and there are over 500 vacancies for warehouse jobs so I don’t think we need much more warehousing, especially in this area. I think we need to focus on more high-paid skilled jobs and focus more on the science park.”

The cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure, Andy Konieczko, responded to the worries.

He said: "There is a need for warehouses, whether we see it as councillors or not, according to the economic needs assessment that says we have a shortage of industrial and logistic space.”