RESIDENTS in Basingstoke and Deane will be invited to share their thoughts on the council's plan to slow down the number of homes built in the borough in a consultation next year.

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.

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

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 next step is to carry out a borough-wide consultation, starting in January 2024, that will include opportunities for people to have their say online or in person at events.

Cllr Andy Konieczko said: “We recognise how important the local plan is in giving our residents certainty about future development in their areas and setting higher standards for all new homes built in our area.

“Making decisions about where future development should go is never easy but re-starting the local plan process has been one of our top priorities. All the time we don’t have a plan that has been shaped by the local community, we run the risk of developers making decisions about the future of our borough rather than the people who live here.

“We need to balance how we meet the growing demand for new homes and workplaces for current and future generations while protecting and enhancing our local environment and it’s important we hear from all those people who have a view to help us shape the plan.”

SEE ALSO: Residents make a stand against homes in east of Basingstoke

The plan received criticism at the council’s economic, planning and housing committee meeting held on Thursday, September 7.

Cllr Sam Carr branded the idea as a “bit of statistical wizardry” while former leader Cllr Ken Rhatigan said it “only delays the future”.

The view was shared by Cllr Jenny Vaux who called for the housing number to be reduced for the full plan period and not just the first five years.

Despite this Cllr Alex Lee supported the new idea. He said the new plan is "the first step in considering housing numbers and shows a proactive approach to addressing concerns".

The borough council has informed the Gazette that more details about the consultation will be published closer to the time.