Plans have been submitted to build thousands of new homes in Hampshire.

Buckland Development Limited (BDL) is planning to develop around 6,000 new houses across 1,000 acres of land on the north side of Fareham.

The Welborne Garden Village scheme will also include shops, schools, healthcare facilities, and commercial business space as well as around 270 acres of natural green space, play areas, allotments and sports facilities.

The new village will also be connected by a network of paths and cycle routes, with major improvements carried out to Junction 10 on the M27. Overall, the development aims to create over 5,700 jobs.

Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Seán Woodward, said: "Without doubt the Garden Village designation, the recent court case ordering the sale of land at Welborne and the planning application received today are a direct result of the assertive delivery strategy adopted by the Council just a year ago. Far from slowing things down, the strategy has actually pushed things forward and I am pleased to see the significant progress now being made.

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"We came through a public enquiry which found the Welborne Plan sound, enabling it to be adopted by the Council and had every expectation of an immediate application from the principal landowners.

"Instead there was no meaningful progress until we adopted our delivery strategy to appoint a delivery partner and consider compulsory purchase of all the land required. It was this strategy that sparked all of the recent activity and progress that has been made."

However, Cllr Woodward said current uncertainty over the availability of the land at Welborne is key.

"The significant amount of land not currently within the control of Buckland Development Limited is considered necessary to enable the development to be delivered on a comprehensive basis, along with all necessary supporting infrastructure," he continued.

"Despite receipt of the planning application and the outcome of the recent court case, the reasons for our current delivery strategy remain unchanged and it is important for us to continue with it until we are certain that the much needed new homes are in a position to proceed.

"I have given a commitment over many years where Welborne is concerned that we will not lay a single brick of Welborne until we have identified exactly what infrastructure is needed, where it is to be sited and most importantly how it's going to be funded."

(LM/CD)