WHITEHILL and Bordon has been highlighted in a countywide initiative to showcase areas considered ripe for investment.

Hampshire County Council, alongside national commercial marketing agency Lambert Smith Hampton, has launched Hampshire’s first key development sites prtfolio to exhibit, what the council and agency call, major development and investment opportunities in the county.

Featuring 32 commercial and mixed-use sites and more than 1,200 acres of land for development, the portfolio highlights space that can accommodate businesses looking to “invest and grow”.

Viking Park and areas earmarked as part of Whitehill and Bordon’s regeneration (Quebec Park, and Louisburg and Prince Philip barracks) are displayed in the scheme.

Sean Woodward, the county council’s executive member for economy, transport and environment, said the portfolio was a great way, in an ever more competitive world, to attract those wanting to invest in key areas.

“This vital resource provides a comprehensive overview of a diverse range of development opportunities across Hampshire to attract investment and businesses which will, in turn, create jobs,” he said.

“The market to attract investment, in the UK and beyond, is increasingly competitive, and it’s critical that we showcase these opportunities to potential developers, investors and, of course, occupier businesses.”

The sites were identified on the basis of being “employment led” and have a threshold of around 15,000 square metres of potential floorspace. Sites in both public and private sector ownership have been included.

A new online map promotes all 32 development areas suitable for a range of employment uses, including office, distribution and industrial.

Whitehill and Bordon’s “plot size and estimated employment floorspace provision” is, in total, marketed as a 741-acre site, providing approximately 173 acres of developable land.

The document also outlines road and neighbouring rail connections and the distance to London’s airports.

Shorter term investment is also advertised with the technical training area providing “72,000 square metres of employment uses for an interim period of five to 15 years, after which time residential development is proposed”.

This land is ringfenced for interim employment uses, such as office, research and development, light industrial and general industrial uses.

With all this information catalogued and available at their fingertips, it is hoped that potential investors will be able to easily find space perfect for their aims.

The lion’s share of the 32 sites are along the south coast, with only a handful further north, including sites in Farnborough, Basingstoke and Andover.

Whitehill Town Council leader Adam Carew said the initiative was “excellent” but said it needed some refinement.

“Also there is far more to offer than just housing, storage and distribution - what about commercial, retail and leisure?” he asked.

Explaining why the firm seized the opportunity to sponsor the portfolio, Andrew Hodgkinson, director of Lambert Smith Hampton, which has offices in south Hampshire as well as other parts of the country, said: “There is a wealth of activity afoot along the south coast. We are seeing increased private-sector interest thanks to the investment opportunities the region offers, paired with all-important engaged, ambitious and investor-friendly public sector partners.

“As such, we were delighted to support the creation of the key development sites portfolio to draw all of the region’s development sites together in one place to promote a clear vision for ongoing investment.”

Whitehill and Bordon is being marketed on investinhampshire.co.uk.