At a meeting on Tuesday, March 10, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council‘s (BDBC) cabinet approved the 2026 business plan and budget for Manydown Garden Communities LLP, the joint venture owned by the borough council and Hampshire County Council which holds the freehold for the 3,520-home Manydown North land. The move is required under the members’ agreement to keep the scheme on track.​

The report states that development partner Urban&Civic has started early works to get the site ready, including completing access for construction, beginning work on the first main access junction and installing utilities, ahead of new homes being built.​

Cllr Onnalee Cubitt, cabinet member for major projects and regeneration, said: “At the end of January, we released new CGI images showing the proposed gateway to the Manydown development in Basingstoke.

CGI image showing how Manydown’s entrance could look (Image: Manydown Development)

“These designs illustrate a landscaped entrance incorporating tree planting, wildflower areas, walking and cycling routes, and a central pond reflecting the character of the Hampshire landscape.

“We are very excited about where we’re heading on this infrastructure‑first project, and that is of paramount importance to this administration.

“We’re delighted with the work that has commenced and is progressing at Roman Road; this marks another important step in the development of the Manydown community, with pivotal work now taking place on key infrastructure for the park as well.”

Manydown is described in the council’s plan as a “key focus for delivery” and “a significant opportunity to bring much-needed homes through a well-planned approach, delivering infrastructure and facilities that meet our communities’ needs”. The wider site has the potential to accommodate around 8,000 homes over the next 20 years, with the initial phase providing up to 3,520 homes.​

Manydown Garden Communities LLP was set up in 2018 as a 50/50 partnership between BDBC and Hampshire County Council (HCC). In 2020, it entered into the Manydown Development Vehicle LLP with Urban&Civic and the Wellcome Trust, which is responsible for delivering the new neighbourhood.

Outline planning permission for Manydown North was granted in December 2021, and the councils completed the purchase of the land in October 2024 before transferring it into the LLP.​

The 2026 business plan, which is commercially confidential, sets out the LLP’s role in overseeing and facilitating the development, including regular engagement with the development manager and decision-making at board level. The accompanying budget covers staff time, accountancy, external audit and insurance, and will continue to be funded through borrowing within an existing £3.2m loan facility shared between the two councils.

Separate capital monitoring papers show that £1.209m is allocated to Manydown Development in the current financial year, with around £1.02m of planned spend rephased into future years as part of wider changes to the council’s capital programme.

The overall programme remains fully funded from the council’s own resources up to 2029/30.