Working together to shape the future of Buckskin and South Ham.
Working together to shape the future of Buckskin and South Ham
Sovereign Network Group (SNG), working with Hill as the Sovereign Hill Partnership, wants to invest in Buckskin and South Ham. We're listening and engaging with local people to understand what matters most, and work together on a long-term plan that improves the area and creates more opportunities for everyone.
We announced in autumn 2023 that we wanted to work with residents and the community to create a plan for the future of Buckskin and South Ham. Since then, hundreds of residents have shared their experiences, ideas and ambitions for the area. While many people told us they value the community spirit and character of the neighbourhoods, they also highlighted challenges including the condition of homes, feelings of safety, getting around the area, local facilities and the quality of some green spaces.
Importantly, residents also spoke about the opportunities that investment could bring, not only through better homes and neighbourhoods, but through stronger community facilities, improved health and wellbeing, better connections, support for local businesses, skills and employment opportunities, and activities that bring people together. This is about more than improving buildings and places. It's about creating opportunities for people, strengthening community life and ensuring current and future generations can benefit from the investment and growth happening around them. These conversations have helped shape the four ambitions that sit at the heart of our shared vision.
Our shared ambitions
Your feedback has helped identify four shared ambitions for the area
Renewed homes and streets where people feel safe
Residents told us that good homes and safe neighbourhoods matter most. They want homes that are warm, affordable to run and fit for modern life, and neighbourhoods where people feel secure and proud of where they live.
Our ambition is to create high-quality homes and safer, better designed neighbourhoods that improve everyday life and support people’s wellbeing.
A prosperous local community and economy
Residents want more opportunities for themselves and future generations. They want better connections to jobs, skills, education and services.
Our ambition is to ensure local people benefit from Basingstoke’s growth by improving access to opportunity and strengthening connections within and beyond the neighbourhood.
A resilient, sustainable and healthy neighbourhood
Residents value the area’s green spaces and want them to do more for people and nature.
Our ambition is to create greener, healthier neighbourhoods that support wellbeing, encourage active lifestyles and are resilient to future environmental challenges.
A proud and empowered community
Residents want to be involved in shaping the future of their neighbourhoods and to feel a renewed sense of pride in the places they call home.
Our ambition is to strengthen community connections; celebrate local identity and ensure residents play a central role in shaping future change.
Neighbourhood principles
Our Neighbourhood Principles will act as a guide to make sure community priorities and ideas continue to shape thinking.
The team has been listening and working with the community to shape early ideas for the proposed renewal of the neighbourhoods. Feedback is helping the project understand what matters most and where investment should be focused and has guided the four overarching ambitions.
Alongside the four ambitions, the emerging vision is guided by principles developed with residents through the Community Co-Design Associate (CDA) programme. These reflect what local people told us they value most and what they want future investment to focus on. These will act as a guide to make sure community priorities and ideas continue to shape thinking as plans develop over time.
Homes and Neighbourhoods
Homes: Homes that are accessible, adaptable and well maintained.
Distinct neighbourhoods: Create attractive, well-maintained and welcoming neighbourhoods.
A variety of homes: A variety of homes that are affordable for different people, families and lifestyles.
Streets and Connections
Connectivity: Improve connections and accessibility between homes, community provision, shops and services, green spaces and public transport.
Streets: Streets that work better for all modes of transport.
Parking: A strategy for car parking which helps keep pavements and verges clear of cars.
Green Space and Biodiversity
Biodiverse green spaces: A balanced approach to what green spaces provide, creating more inviting and attractive green spaces, whilst improving biodiversity.
Young people / play / growing up: Better play facilities and opportunities for children and young adults, creating spaces that are safe and accessible.
Accessible green spaces: Well-connected and easy to access by any mode. Inclusive and accessible infrastructure so that everyone of all ages and abilities can enjoy green space.
Community Provision and Local Centres
Local shops: Local shops that are well maintained and support local business opportunities.
Community: A community-first neighbourhood that supports health, wellbeing and growth.
Central and accessible: A local centre that sits in a location where most residents are within easy reach.
Download a copy
Download the Neighbourhood Principles [pdf, 476KB]PDF
These are your neighbourhoods, and the people who live here understand them best. By sharing what you value and what could be better, you help us develop proposals that genuinely respond to local needs. Your input now will directly shape the plans.
We are gathering views on the emerging ideas for new and renewed homes, improved streets, green spaces and community facilities. We are also keen to understand what makes your neighbourhood special today, so we can protect and build on it.
You can complete our online surveys, come along to a drop-in session, or join one of our resident groups. Every piece of feedback is recorded and feeds into the developing proposals.
