Plans for the revamp Basingstoke’s flagship business park have received a boost with the announcement of a major development partner for the scheme.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has chosen Muse Developments to spearhead the £200m transformation of the ageing Basing View site.
The council said the 15-year revamp could create up to 5,000 jobs.
Borough finance chief Cllr Ranil Jayawardena said the partnership would help raise the town’s profile nationally.
He said: “We are pleased to be working with Muse Developments to drive forward our vision for a modern, regionally recognised business destination, delivering real economic growth for Basing-stoke and north Hampshire.”
Muse Developments will be tasked with developing more than 15 acres across five council-owned sites into new office buildings, as well bringing in big business to snap up the offices.
And at the western end of Basing View, towards the town, a two-acre site has been earmarked for a business class hotel.
Mike Auger, regional director for Muse said: “We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to work alongside Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to regenerate Basing View and welcome the strong contribution from the council, which will no doubt assist in its delivery. We will now work together to finalise our plans for the site and aim to enter into the development agreements in the New Year.”
Council leader Andrew Finney said the revamp had the potential to change the face of the town, adding: “People coming past Basing View on the train will be able to see a 21st century business park rather than a dated 1970s park.”
The announcement was welcomed following a major setback at the end of last year. The borough council is tasked with spending up to £3.3m on upgrading infrastructure.
The first phase was to demolish ageing Loddon House and City Wall House. But on December 23 last year, the firm carrying out the work, the Armoury Group, went bust, delaying the project by two months and forcing council chiefs to shell out an extra £200,000 to kick-start the project.
And there was a three-month delay in July after asbestos was discovered in Loddon House.
But amid the setbacks, Network Rail announced plans to build a new regional training facility on Gresley Road and a link to Basing View across the railway. It is hoped that this will help attract business to invest in Basing View.
The council expects the first planning applications to be submitted by the end of 2012 ready for building work to start at the end of 2013.
