Natural Basingstoke has put forward a proposal near Cufaude Lane in Bramley where developments on 103 acres of countryside are proposed.
Croudace Homes is building more than 300 homes in the area, with an additional phase recently approved, and a neighbouring site has been proposed byTaylor Wimpey for 265 homes.
The charity has warned that current plans do not adequately protect the area’s wildlife, including common toads, barn owls, skylarks, brown hares and hazel dormice, which have the site as their home.
A common toad on a street (Image: Unsplash)
Gill Smallman, chair of Natural Basingstoke, said: “We see the creation of a protected wildlife corridor around Cufaude Lane in north Basingstoke as a reasonable compromise that enables new homes to be built while providing meaningful protection for local ecology and compensating for the loss of open countryside.
“By embracing this proposal, developers have the opportunity to demonstrate genuine support for our natural environment to residents and future homeowners.”
Natural Basingstoke said the current approach of designating ‘countryside parks’ within developments is not enough, as these shared spaces do not adequately protect wildlife from disturbance, habitat degradation, and predation.
Instead, the charity is calling for a landscape-scale, strategic solution that would connect remaining habitats and allow wildlife to thrive.
Block plan of Croudace Homes development (Image: Croudace Homes)
The group has developed a detailed plan for a protected wildlife corridor connecting Bramley Camp, which is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), to National Trust land to the west of Cufaude Lane.
The proposal also includes establishing a new Local Nature Reserve on land owned by Hampshire County Council.
The plan has received in-principle backing from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Debbie Tann, chief executive of the trust, said: “The trust supports the proposal’s aims, which would protect and promote open countryside species and expand and enhance their habitats.”
Environmental campaign group Wild Justice has also given its support.
Bob Elliot, chief executive of Wild Justice, said: “Wild Justice fully supports Natural Basingstoke’s Cufaude Lane Nature Restoration Project.
“This would create a legacy green corridor and areas that are meaningfully protected for nature, and we will be watching developments with interest.”
Natural Basingstoke has contacted both Croudace Homes and Taylor Wimpey to discuss the proposals.
The charity believes the wildlife corridor could be delivered with minimal changes to the existing development plans.
Further details about the proposal are available on Natural Basingstoke’s website at naturalbasingstoke.org.uk/cufaude-lane-nature-protection-enhancement-proposal