THE project lead from the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company this week urged people to get involved and help shape the historic development.

James Child, who heads the Taylor Wim-pey-Dorchester joint venture overseeing the development, spoke to the Bordon Herald about the project and explained how people can get on board.

Outline permission for plans to regenerate Prince Philip Barracks were given the green light by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) in April and now residents are being called upon to name the 2,400-home development.

Having already spoken to some members of the public about a possible name for the new “neighbourhood”, which will see the western side of the town transformed following the closure of Bordon Garrison, the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company has suggested a couple of ideas.

“Princes Park” and “Prin-cess Park”, which make reference to Prince Philip Barracks, appear to be front runners but residents have until the end of September to get their ideas in.

Mr Child outlined the timescale for the scheme, which will provide 2,400 homes, a new town centre, a new Mill Chase Academy secondary school, new leisure centre and loads more over the next 15 years.

“The town will truly be a ‘green’ town with over 200 acres of new woodland, parks, green spaces and allotments provided,” he said. “In the short term, we will see the departure by Christmas this year of the Royal Electrical and Mech-anical Engineers who are moving to RAF Lyneham.

“In the new year, new tenants will arrive to take up space vacated.

“We will host a series of events starting on October 6 – providing great opportunities for local businesses, clubs and charities to showcase what they do – and for the community to help shape plans for the town.

“Construction work on the infrastructure - such as roads, electrical, power, sewerage, water, gas and broadband - will commence early in the new year and the first new buildings will emerge in 2017. There is important heritage in the town and its surroundings which needs to be safeguarded and developed. Our plans for the town must be sensitive to this and a series of events will be held to shape how the new development will come forward.”

He went on to talk about the importance of community engagement and the cohesive approach the developers hope to take, creating a place in keeping with what is already here, as well as with what has come before.

Involving members of the public, he said, was crucial to a successful development of this size and timescale.

“We would love you to have your say,” he added.

“We have opened up a competition to the community asking for your opinions on naming this exciting development. Please visit www.whitehillbordonre

generation.co.uk/competi

tion to enter and leave your contribution.”

EHDC’s planning committee voted unanimously to grant permission in April - with councillors supporting what is the largest application East Hampshire has ever seen. The 200-hectare area covers Prince Philip Barracks, the Technical Training Area, Martinique House, the Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club and Hogmoor Inclosure.

While it will be completely transformed by the development, the homes can only be built at a certain rate. If they are completed too fast it would saturate the market, meaning they are worth less.

Restricted by this commercial fact, Mr Child explained that existing facilities - such as Army warehouses and areas of former training space - will be marketed in the limbo period between the military’s departure and the new development coming forwards. This could help “bridge the gap” while the infrastructure, jobs and homes are on the way.

Working with existing businesses in the town is also part of the company’s ethos.

Mr Child explained that, for example, there are talks of a petrol station being situated on the new relief road following fears that a drop in passing trade along the A325 could but strain on the town’s current fuel provid-ers. The new road, which has full planning permission and funding in place, is seen as an essential piece of the puzzle - both to provide access to the new development and to reduce east-west severance in the town by taking through traffic off the A325.

While the plans have been praised by councillors and officers alike, they have not escaped controversy with some raising concerns over impact on wildlife and overdevelopment. There is also a resounding cynicism among some residents who worry the promise of exciting infrastructure and services will not come to fruition in tandem with the houses.

But the developers maintain that making the area as desirable as possible is in their best interest as it will reflect positively on property prices.

The specific elements of the 2,400 homes, new town centre, anchor food store and so on are yet to be set out.

Currently that part of the development only has outline planning permission, with details such as the layout, material used and design to be clarified in phases.

This further compounds, said the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Com-pany, its desire for local people to have their say.

For information, residents can pop into Martin-ique House, in Hampshire Road, during office hours.