North Waltham

Pressing for water infrastructure investment

The new Local Plan requires thousands more houses, but existing water resources cannot sustain this growth. There is a £163 million infrastructure deficit that must be addressed. We are pressing water companies, Hampshire County Council, and the Government to fund the infrastructure needed.

Evidence shows that:

• Existing water resources cannot sustain the level of growth being proposed
• Significant investment in new infrastructure would be required
• Local sewage works are under strain and need upgrades to meet future growth
• The growth suggested by Government needs to be factored into water company plans

We are demanding transparency on capacity and pressing for concrete action and investment, not just promises. We need to see infrastructure delivered before development proceeds.

Advocating for North Hampshire Council

Basingstoke & Deane wouldn’t be big enough on its own, but could work with Hart and Rushmoor to create a North Hampshire Council. This would be closer to people than other proposals. We think North Hampshire is the better choice – it’s close enough to be local, but big enough to deliver all the services we need.

We are saying no to Hampshire County Council’s plan for a mega-council that would see Basingstoke combined with Petersfield and Winchester. We are backing the local plan for a North Hampshire Council.

Strategic gaps secured in Local Plan

We are working to define strategic gaps in the Local Plan to protect our villages. Working with Oakley & Deane Parish Council, we are ensuring the Oakley–Basingstoke gap delivers what we need – a meaningful area that separates Oakley from Basingstoke. It is absolutely critical that any development along the west side of Basingstoke honours this position in planning policy.

For North Waltham, we have pushed to dramatically increase the size of the strategic gap, pulling development back from the north of the village to the area along the A30. The gap will be planted with trees to preserve our rural environment. We have worked to reduce the site allocation boundary and add buffer planting around development as it approaches North Waltham, rather than just north of Maidenthorn Lane.

Monitoring warehouse planning applications

Warehouse planning applications keep coming forward across the area. Independent Councillor Julian Jones raises objections on behalf of residents where proposals don’t work for local communities, highlighting concerns about transport impacts and local benefit.

For applications that are approved, we are monitoring the detailed discussions between councils and developers to make sure transport planning and local impacts are properly addressed, and holding developers accountable for commitments they’ve made.

We are tracking multiple warehouse proposals and will continue to challenge them where they don’t work for local communities.

BDBC Local Plan consultation now open

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has opened a consultation on the Local Plan. This is a crucial opportunity to shape how our communities develop and ensure the plan reflects local priorities.

The Local Plan will set out:

• Where new development will be located
• How much growth there will be
• What infrastructure and facilities will be delivered
• Policies to protect our villages and rural character

I am engaging with the consultation to ensure:

Local government reorganisation timeline confirmed

The Government confirmed the timeline for local government reorganisation on 5 February 2025, when the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution invited councils in two-tier areas to develop proposals for unitary local government. The English Devolution White Paper was published on 16 December 2024, outlining the government’s vision, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was introduced to Parliament on 10 July 2025. Councils were invited to submit interim reorganisation plans by 21 March 2025, with full proposals due by 28 November 2025.

Chalk streams: stronger protection for the Test and Loddon

Chalk streams like the River Test and the River Loddon are globally rare – and they’re under real pressure from pollution, over-abstraction and development.

Earlier this year, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council backed a “Rights of Rivers” motion (led by an Independent councillor) to give these rivers much more weight in local decision‑making. The next step is practical: work with residents and partners to produce a local Declaration on the Rights of the River by spring 2026, and then use those principles to shape planning and policy (including the Local Plan).

Hampshire Mayor resource launched

A new Hampshire Mayor will bring changes to how decisions are made locally. I have created hampshiremayor.com – an independent political resource outlining what’s happening, what it means, and where to stay informed with documents and background information.

The Government wants Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to have a Mayor, like London or Manchester. It wants to replace borough, county and district councils with new unitary authorities. The site provides more information about what this means for residents.

Junction 7 site progress, but timeline still far off

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed it has funding to purchase land near Junction 7 of the M3 this financial year.

But the overall timetable is still a long way off. Earlier this year, the Government’s New Hospital Programme placed Hampshire Together in Wave 3. The local programme has said construction is scheduled to begin between 2037 and 2039, with an updated public cost estimate of around £2 billion.

Chalk streams: Basingstoke & Deane backs Rights of Rivers

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has backed a “Rights of Rivers” motion to strengthen protection for our locally important chalk streams – including the River Loddon and the River Test.

It’s a commitment to treat rivers as living ecosystems that deserve a stronger voice in decisions – especially when it comes to planning and development, and how we tackle pollution and over-abstraction.

The motion also commits the council to work with residents and partners to develop a local Declaration on the Rights of the River by spring 2026.

Monitoring hospital timeline and pressing for clarity

The Government has published a revised New Hospital Programme timetable and, as part of that, has placed the Hampshire Hospitals scheme (covering Basingstoke and Winchester) into Wave 3, with a 2035–2039 construction start window. That means the new hospital is now unlikely to begin main construction until the late 2030s.

There is no clear published figure for what it will cost to keep the existing buildings safe and workable over that period. We are pressing for clarity on the timeline and making the case that earlier delivery makes both economic and healthcare sense.