Conservation charity Natural Basingstoke is urging the public to respond to a consultation on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s draft Local Plan, which outlines where 17,000 new homes could be built in the coming years under a government-imposed target.
The group is concerned that areas previously ruled out for development on environmental grounds are now back on the table.
Gill Smallman, chair of Natural Basingstoke, said: “We recognise the unenviable task the Council has faced. However, more needs to be done to ensure our natural environment is not irreparably damaged.
“We look forward to working constructively with the Council to help shape a Local Plan that leaves a positive environmental legacy for future generations.”
The group supports the need for new housing but insists it cannot come at the expense of the environment.
Natural Basingstoke is calling for a series of changes to the draft plan, including prioritising development in less sensitive areas, using updated environmental data to guide decisions, and avoiding the most ecologically vulnerable sites.
The group has also emphasised the need for stronger protection of the borough’s rare chalk streams, which it describes as ‘globally rare and irreplaceable’ and vulnerable to the impacts of nearby construction.
They are also calling for the creation of a connected network of protected habitats across the area, which they say would allow nature to recover and thrive.
The charity said: “We do not believe residents should be forced to sacrifice one precious natural area to save another.
“The Local Plan must be strengthened so that nature is properly protected.”
The council’s cabinet approved the consultation in November 2025, giving the public until January 23, 2026, to have their say on the proposals.
Natural Basingstoke is urging Luke Murphy MP to help the council find a way to deliver new homes while securing lasting improvements to the natural environment.
Mr Murphy has previously said: “I will advocate for a planning system that supports both economic renewal and nature recovery.”
He also stated that he would back the delivery of “measurable improvements to our local environment here in Basingstoke.”
Residents can sign Natural Basingstoke’s petition here: www.change.org/p/protect-basingstoke-s-rare-chalk-streams-and-natural-green-spaces