The long-awaited purchase of the Manydown land is nearly complete, with just the final step of solicitor sign-off and contract exchange remaining, much like the final stages of buying a house.
Once this process is formally sealed, the development will pave the way for 3,500 new homes, including 1,400 affordable units, and will effectively create a "new town" in the area, providing a major boost to housing targets in Basingstoke.
The deal was officially signed and sealed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) this week.
This was revealed by BDBC council leader Paul Harvey at a council meeting on Thursday, October 17.
Addressing the chamber, Cllr Harvey said: “I have the great pleasure of saying to the chamber that the actual deal for Manydown has finally been signed. What it means is it has secured 3,500 houses on north Manydown, 1,400 of which will be affordable homes."
The completion of the legal process, which involved years of planning and significant effort from council officers, marks the end of a nearly three-decade journey to develop the 2,000-acre site.
Originally purchased on a 999-year lease for £10 million in 1996 by BDBC and HCC, the project has faced numerous delays, including leadership changes, legal battles, and planning revisions.
However, the new agreement ensures that development will now proceed on north Manydown.
Although the prospect of 3,500 new houses in Manydown might seem ominous, it is indeed good news for the borough, as it will alleviate housing pressures on other areas, reducing the need for additional developments across Basingstoke.
The construction is expected to include a 250-acre countryside park.
The Manydown North development is part of a larger vision, with potential for an even bigger development in the southern part of the site, where up to 10,000 homes could be proposed in the future.
The councils are partnering with master developer Urban&Civic, part of the Wellcome Trust, to deliver the new community, which will play a vital role in meeting the growing housing needs of the region.
SEE ALSO: Councillors agree purchase freehold of Manydown North land to get work started
The Manydown news comes following the start of construction of a new development, which will deliver 104 new homes and a community building, in Worting Park. This land was part of the Manydown allocation in the local plan, but it was not part of the Manydown north process.
Cllr Harvey also praised the extensive efforts of council officers during the process.
"Can I thank the officers who have put so much time and effort into this, not least the process of signing and sealing, which took God knows how long with the documentation required and thank you that your arm didn't drop off, to say the least," he said.
"But just the amount of sheer hard work that has gone into this to get this far, it really does show what we've managed to achieve in 15 months, picking up from where it had previously been left off by the administration to get it as far as they did.
"Manydown will be delivered.”
Timeline of Manydown Development
February 20, 1996: HCC and BDBC jointly purchase 2,000-acre Manydown site on a 999-year lease for £10 million.
August 2003: HCC cabinet decides to earmark Manydown's west site as a major development area.
September 2003: BDBC cabinet agrees to include Manydown's north site as a proposed housing allocation area in the draft local plan until 2016.
November 2005: A planning inspector orders that the draft plan period should end in 2011 and the proposed housing allocation be removed.
2011: BDBC cabinet decides to exclude Manydown north site from consultation draft.
2012: The Manydown Company approaches High Court against the council decision.
April 2012: High Court rules against BDBC, saying the council acted unlawfully when refusing to build 8,000 homes on Manydown north site.
2016: Councils secure an allocation for the development of Manydown North for around 3,200 dwellings to be delivered up to 2029.
July 2018: BDBC cabinet and HCC approve the establishment of Manydown Garden Communities LLP as the joint venture vehicle to own the freehold interest in the Manydown North development site.
July 8, 2020: The Development Control Committee agrees to grant outline planning permission for a new garden community at Manydown North subject to completion of Section 106 Agreement.
July 28, 2020: BDBC and HCC enter into a partnership with master developer Urban & Civic and global charitable foundation The Wellcome Trust. Subsequently, Urban & Civic was acquired by The Wellcome Trust.
December 20, 2021: Outline planning permission granted following the signing of Section 106 agreement.
February 2022: Councils receive an alternative proposal from The Manydown Company for acquiring the freehold interest.
November 2023: BDBC agrees to purchase the freehold of Manydown to get work started.
October 2024: BDBC and HCC officially sign and seal the documents.
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