VIETNAMESE officials crossed continental and cultural boundaries to learn about the ongoing community developments in Whitehill and Bordon.

The Whitehill and Bordon regeneration team have, for many years, hoped

the project would prove to be more than just another housing development.

Rather the rhetoric has often been grand, ambitious and has even received criticism for being what some might deem overly optimistic.

However, with dignitaries from the other side of the world coming to hear about how the regeneration is being handled, it seems that at least the perception of greatness is rubbing off on some.

The delegation from the Vietnamese Government travelled 8,500 miles to visit

the town and learn about the advances it has made in “environmental sustainability and development” a part of a two-week fact-finding visit to the UK. East Hampshire District Council said in a statement that the group described the regeneration project as “the most relevant” part of their tour

this month.

The 18 visitors, from the communist country’s Ministry of Investment and

Planning, met with members of EHDC’s Whitehill and Bordon team, toured the

eco-station and were shown around the town.

Steve Pearce, director of the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Project, said:

“We were very proud to receive the Vietnamese officials who came to study our

approach to all the issues around development, planning investment and environmental sustainability.

“They were very impressed with some of the solutions we had found here

in Whitehill and Bordon, particularly our partnerships with other authorities,

developers, the EM3 Local Enterprise Partnership, Homes and Communities

Agency and the Ministry of Defence.

“They were also interested to learn how we have invested early in infrastructure

such as roads, schools and community facilities to create a vibrant community,

and how we have captured increased land value for the benefit of all residents of the town.

“Even though we are separated by a global and political divide there was still

plenty we could learn from each other.

“It was a great opportunity for us to listen to new ideas and build valuable

relationships.”

Whitehill and Bordon is undergoing a significant change as the army departs

the town this year after more than 150 years and EHDC has said it is “committed” to turning this into “an opportunity to improve the town for its residents and workers”.

The overall regeneration of the town will include 3,350 new homes, a new

town centre, new facilities, schools, new road and more, with the council hoping to generate 5,500 new jobs in the process.

The visit came forward through EHDC’s partnership with Southampton

University and Business South, an association of businesses in the region.

Stefan Cantore, of Southampton University, helped organise the visit. He

said: “The delegation was very interested in the development and how theoretical lessons can be applied in practice.

“They were particularly interested in how planning and regeneration is taken

forward in the UK, how investment is drawn in and how an area is stimulated.”