Plans for Welborne’s Village Centre submitted as first images are released

A detailed planning application for Welborne’s Village Centre has been submitted to Fareham Borough Council.

Buckland Development, part of the locally based Buckland Group, has designed the centre.

The £50 million investment, combined with favourable business lease terms, is expected to boost the local economy.

Construction could start later this year with completion targeted for the spring of 2027.

The planning application is described as a pivotal step in the establishment of a new community for 15,000 people to live, work and play.

The Welborne Village Centre includes provision for a primary school, nursery, GP surgery and pharmacy.

New residential homes will include 1 and 2-bedroom apartments up to 3 and 4-bedroom houses.

Commercial spaces include a traditional pub/hotel, diverse retail space (including space for a butcher, bakery, café, restaurant, and other retail), and a community hall crowned with a bell tower.

The entire Village Centre uses a bespoke design code which will ensure it fits within the Chesterfield neighbourhood where it will be built and integrates with the rest of Welborne.

Sustainability is key with green spaces, connectivity to local woodlands, cycling paths, and provisions for public transport and the latest electric vehicle charging facilities.

John Beresford, Managing Director of Buckland Development, said: “In the design of the Village Centre, we’ve thoughtfully merged Hampshire’s heritage with the principles of sustainability.

“Our goal is to create a Village Centre that becomes the perfect image of what we’d all like to call home.

“A place that is warm, functional, friendly, and full of shops and places to socialise.

“This place is about more than just homes – it’s a foundation for local business and a welcoming space for all, starting with our very first residents at Welborne.

“We’re creating economic, environmental and social value which will last for generations.”

Councillor Seán Woodward, Fareham Borough Council Executive Leader, said: “The development of Welborne Village Centre – the first new village centre in Fareham for 40 years – is a landmark moment for the Borough.

“It will bring a wave of benefits, not only for the future residents of Welborne but also for our wider community.

“Our close working with Buckland Group Ltd is a clear commitment to enhancing the fabric of our Borough, creating opportunities, fostering community ties, and setting new standards for living spaces to which others will aspire.”

Initial preparatory work is already underway on the site, with the first homes expected to be delivered in late 2024.

• https://bucklanddevelopment.com/

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