FAQs

We know how much you care about the future of Buckskin and South Ham. We do too, which is why we have been working with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to make it an even better place to live, as they have identified it as a key part of Basingstoke’s future.

Alongside the community, we’ve been looking at how to invest in and improve the area and provide better opportunities for people living here long into the future, from jobs to leisure and the homes people live in.

Many homes are ageing and becoming expensive to maintain, while others may need more significant upgrades or, in some cases, replacement.  As part of this, we think there’s an opportunity to improve the whole area for all, not just the homes we manage – and this is what we are talking to residents about. 

Our ongoing conversations with local residents continue to shape and influence our thinking, which is captured in our Community Insights reports. You can find these on our Publications page.

SHP has a board that we are accountable to and several layers of governance, which include residents who live in our homes.

Any changes that require planning permission will require the approval of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council as the planning authority for the area.

We’re focused on listening to you, as it’s important that the local community is involved in shaping any proposals for the future. No final decisions have been made yet as this is a long-term process, and any changes would happen gradually over many years - potentially taking over 20 years to complete - although some improvements will be possible sooner.

We’ve been out and about in the community since 2023 gathering your ideas, challenges, and aspirations for Buckskin and South Ham.

This includes: 

• Exhibitions (Winter 2023, Summer social 2024, Winter 2024/25, Spring 2025, February 2026)  
• Drop-ins (Kings Road Café, Ridgeway, local churches) 
• Pop-ups (Burnaby shops, Ridgeway summer fair) 
• Public Living Rooms (Summer 2026) 
• Community Co-Design Associates (CDA) programme (Spring 2024 and Autumn 2025, plus one-off sessions throughout 2026)
• YDA (Young Design Associates) programme
• Community meetings
• Our 2025 summer of engagement, including door-knocking more than 3,000 homes, many 1-2-1 meetings at residents’ homes, and hosting a series of community drop-in events  
• Neighbourhood in Focus workshops (Autumn 2025) 

During these events and activities, we’ve gathered your feedback on different aspects, such as insights into the area, ideas for change or feedback on the emerging ambitions.  

Through the CDA process, residents explored key topics including neighbourhood character, housing, streets and connectivity, green spaces, and local centres. They shared lived experiences, tested ideas, and helped us understand what local people want to protect or enhance, as well as the regeneration opportunities they are most keen to pursue. 

Whilst we understand there are many different opinions and needs across the neighbourhoods, there are clear themes to feed back. We have summarised this feedback into a set of ‘Neighbourhood Principles’ for each of the three areas, developed in collaboration with our CDAs. 

The next stage will involve exploring how the overarching principles can be applied in different ways across Buckskin, South Ham and South Ham Extension. They will be used to help assess options, consider opportunities and constraints, and shape future proposals.

Although this is a long-term process, and it will take time to develop plans for the whole area, we are committed to providing residents with clarity where possible. Through the process, we have identified some priority areas for change as well as some areas that will see limited impact. This means that some residents will gain clarity earlier than others, while others will need to wait longer to understand what may be possible for their area.

We will continue to work with residents as proposals come forward over the coming months and years and keep you up to date with what is happening. We will also provide details of support for residents, especially those in areas of potential change.

There are a number of steps we would go through before any big change could happen. These include:    

• consulting with you
• confirming funding
• obtaining planning permission
• and having individual conversations with affected residents

Any future proposals for the area will be shaped by the shared ambitions and community co-design associates principles and include homes for a variety of age groups, tenures, and needs. It will also seek to create more lively local centres and community facilities, help local businesses to succeed, deliver more energy-efficient homes and introduce improved street layouts with better access to quality green spaces. After this, we will work to secure support from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, and funding from the government. We’ll continue to support residents, maintain and invest in homes and neighbourhoods, and address wellbeing.

There will be more opportunities to share feedback, ask questions and help shape emerging ideas as the work develops. We are committed to continuing this dialogue and to being open and transparent as we move from principles to more detailed thinking.

We’ll keep actively supporting and investing in the area in the short term to make sure South Ham and Buckskin are a safe and enjoyable places to live now and into the future.

This includes continuing to repair, maintain and invest in our existing homes and investing in existing green spaces and community facilities.

Throughout our engagement with residents and key organisations, one priority that has been consistently raised with us is the importance of spaces for the community to socialise and be active. The loss when Westside Community Centre and Library closed in 2023 was felt strongly.

This is why SHP has spent a lot of time working with the team at Westside Community Association (WCA) to understand their needs and what the future looks like to them.

We are collaborating with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to work towards a long-term, sustainable solution which will meet community needs now and into the future. Our shared priorities are to:

• Deliver a new community hub within an early phase
• Work together to find the best solution for the funding, location and design of the community hub
• Ensure residents, WCA and user groups are involved in co-designing the community hub as part of the masterplan

In the meantime, the Beacon Pub has been turned into a temporary community hub, bringing back a space for local people to connect, learn, and access support by providing a welcoming, useful area for everyone.

When we talk about regeneration, you might see a ‘red line’ drawn on a map. This simply outlines the area currently under consideration for potential projects. Whether that’s new homes, improved green spaces, improvements to road networks and transport routes, or better community facilities - it helps everyone see what is part of the project and what isn’t.

 But here’s what it doesn’t mean:

• It doesn’t mean every building inside the red line will be changed or demolished.
• It doesn’t mean decisions have already been made – it’s just part of the early planning and community engagement process.
• It doesn’t affect ownership – land inside the red line isn’t automatically being bought or sold.

For sites that have been identified as priority areas for potential redevelopment or refurbishment we will soon begin to make more detailed plans. We will begin conversations about how the area could benefit from investment to improve housing quality and create spaces that reflect the needs and aspirations of the community. 

Any changes that are proposed will be carefully planned and residents will be involved with clear information and support provided throughout. We’ll always speak with you well in advance before anything happens.

We know how important community ties are in South Ham and Buckskin. We want to support and strengthen the connections that already exist and understand any personal support networks you want to preserve.

An area marked as one of “limited change” means there are no plans to redevelop any homes people are currently living in for this area. Some improvements may happen – this could include refurbishing certain properties SNG owns, adding new homes in small gaps (known as infill), or upgrading local infrastructure like play parks, roads, pathways or lighting.

We’ll keep investing in the homes we own – SNG will continue to maintain and improve our properties to make sure they are in good condition. 

We’re still exploring options for the areas of further study, and no decisions have been made yet. Buckskin and South Ham are large communities, and we need to make sure we get things right together. We have to consider many things like your ideas for improvements, the Local Plan, the homes SNG owns and how they were constructed, existing infrastructure (e.g. roads and utilities), land ownership, Government funding and changes to planning policy.

The Sovereign Hill Partnership will continue working with the local community to shape future proposals, so your views and insight remain really important.

In the meantime, SNG will keep maintaining and investing in the homes we own to make sure they are comfortable and well kept.

While the full renewal of the area could take around 20 years, we promise you’ll know much sooner if your home might be included in any proposed plans.

At the heart of our ambitions is ensuring the communities of Buckskin and South Ham thrive long into the future. This means providing suitable homes, work and community facilities in the years ahead, for children in schools now.

It also means providing high-quality education facilities for future pupils.  We will continue to work with local schools and authorities to understand the needs of pupils. This will ensure the close community spirit is kept alive, and concerns are listened to.

Any proposed change will be considered carefully, including how we can minimise any disruption to education. 

Building on the Community Co-design Associates Principles and the Sovereign Hill Partnership (SHP) 'Commitments', we'll continue to develop a Masterplan and Design Code for the neighbourhoods.  

We'll be engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including the Local Community as this develops and expect this engagement to take place throughout 2026. We are aiming to have completed the Masterplan in 2027.  

We'll aim to bring forward early projects which support neighbourhood renewal and demonstrate the quality of development SHP will deliver. We will keep local residents informed as early projects are identified. As everyone’s circumstances are unique, we will speak to you directly if your home may be affected by any proposals.  

We will share regular updates to keep you informed of key milestones and decisions.

We strongly believe that any meaningful improvement starts with listening and acting on the views of the community, which is why we are taking our time to make sure we have fully engaged with and listened to residents to understand their experiences and wants for the future of the area.

With this strong foundation, we are confident that investment in the area and new, quality homes will have significant, long-term and sustainable benefits to the community. The way people can move through the area, the connections to other places, community facilities and improved green spaces are all things we’d like to consider.

We know there is a lot of concern in Basingstoke about infrastructure capacity. That’s why we are doing infrastructure studies early in the project planning, so we can ensure any plan for the future considers the future infrastructure needed throughout the project and offers the opportunity for improvements.

We are already working with Local agencies such as Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, and the NHS to make sure any future change considers the growing needs of the community.

We have made a set of customer commitments, and you can read them here [pdf, 3.22MB] :  

When a planning application is considered by the Local Planning Authority (BDBC) they will consider how any commitments are secured. Typically, this would be via a Planning Condition or a Legal Agreement. Both of these bind the Applicant (in this case SHP) to delivering their commitments and include a timescale for the commitment to be realised.

SNG cannot decide what happens to land that we do not own. What we can do is listen to residents’ views and use that feedback to suggest a way forward.

If we put forward any ideas that involve land we don’t own, they would only be considered if there is a clear public benefit and strong justification.

In those cases, the decision would not be ours - it would be made by the local authority and its elected members.

No one knows Buckskin and South Ham in the way that you do – the people who live or work in the neighbourhood. Right from the start, it’s been important to us that local people are involved in shaping any proposals for the future.  

We're committed to continuing to build a strong relationship with the local community and to make sure we are taking a collaborative approach to all investment projects across Buckskin and South Ham. This will include all levels of the Neighbourhood Renewal from early delivery sites to the comprehensive masterplan.  

To support this, we are developing an Engagement Charter which will set out how and when we will engage. We have also set up an independently run Resident Led Group. The group act as an independent advisory group, facilitated by NewmanFrancis, to provide the community assurance that their views are being considered when decisions are made, to review services, policies and strategies and to further enhance the collaborative approach SHP take.   

Through the listening events and community co-design programme we have been able to co-design a set of ‘Neighbourhood Principles’ for each of the three areas. As we move forward, these principles will be an important reference point. They will help to shape the next phase of our work and make sure that the views, priorities and ideas shared by the community continue to guide our work and future plans.  

You can read about the principles here.

Previous rounds of engagement with the community have provided a great deal of useful feedback that help shape the future plans for the area.

The feedback from the 2025 engagement events has been collated in the latest edition of the Community feedback - sharing your insights publication (November 2025) [pdf, 8.5MB] . We will make sure that all the feedback, thoughts and priorities received are taken into consideration as we move forward.

Through the Autumn 2025 community co-design programme we have been able to co-design a set of ‘Neighbourhood Principles’ for each of the three areas. As we move forward, these principles will be an important reference point. They will help to shape the next phase of our work and make sure that the views, priorities and ideas shared by the community continue to guide our work and future plans.

Learn more about the principles [pdf, 472KB] .

Through the Pinkerton Area Co-Design work, we looked at these principles and at what they could mean for this particularly area which has been fed  into the design of the area.

At Sovereign Hill Partnership (SHP), our role is to listen, learn, and work alongside residents to understand the challenges and opportunities across the area. We aim to keep the community at the centre of this process.  

We first started talking to residents about the future of the area in 2023. In 2024 we then developed a series of high-level ambitions which we tested with the community. In autumn 2025, we worked closely with residents through three Neighbourhood in Focus workshops and in collaboration with a group of 24 Community Co-Design Associates (CDAs) who were selected to reflect the diverse needs and perspectives of the area. This helped us to explore opportunities to improve the neighbourhoods of South Ham, South Ham Extension and Buckskin, and to better understand the different needs across these neighbourhoods.  

Through the CDA process, residents explored key topics including neighbourhood character, housing, streets and connectivity, green spaces, and local centres. They shared lived experiences, tested ideas, and helped us understand what local people want to protect or enhance, as well as the regeneration opportunities they are most keen to pursue.  

Whilst we understand there are many different opinions and needs across the neighbourhoods, there are clear themes to feedback. We have summarised this feedback into a set of ‘Neighbourhood Principles’ for each of the three areas, developed in collaboration with our CDA's. As we move forward, these principles will be an important reference point. They will help to shape the next phase of our work and ensure that the views, priorities and ideas shared by the community continue to guide our work and future plans.  

You can read about the principles here.

For the last two and a half years, residents have played a crucial role in shaping the future direction of Buckskin and South Ham.

The feedback we have received has helped us to create commitments that reflect our duties to residents and aspirations for the area. You can find these commitments below.

Beyond our exhibitions and events, we have been running dedicated workshops with different groups in the area to understand the different perspectives and test emerging principles, shared ambitions and ideas. We have also been undertaking a number of technical surveys:  

Community Co-Design Associates: Building on the CDA's programme in Summer 24, we brought together a group of residents to work with us and the design team to understand the area in more detail over Autumn 2025. Through the CDA process, residents explored key topics including neighbourhood character, housing, streets and connectivity, green spaces, and local centres. They shared lived experiences, tested ideas, and helped us understand what local people want to protect or enhance, as well as the regeneration opportunities they are most keen to pursue.  

Whilst we understand there are many different opinions and needs across the neighbourhoods, there are clear themes to feed back. We have summarised this feedback into a set of ‘Neighbourhood Principles’ for each of the three areas, developed in collaboration with our CDAs. As we move forward, these principles will be an important reference point. They will help to shape the next phase of our work and ensure that the views, priorities and ideas shared by the community continue to guide our work and future plans.  

You can read about the principles here.

Young Design Academy : We’ve worked with groups of young people to explore issues and ideas to resolve some challenges locally – including ways to improve signage in public places, ideas for ‘play’ and social spaces, what makes local centres successful and ways to use empty spaces such as garages.

Accessible Homes Focus Group : We are working with local residents who have lived experience of needing accessible homes to help inform designs for new homes.

Technical studies: much of our work is being supported by technical studies to provide information such as types of homes and their condition, ecology, types and quality of pedestrian routes, flood risk, etc.

We also understand that change is likely to take place over a number of years, so we have plans to invest in the community meanwhile, with a number of projects that will have a positive effect on the area, providing new opportunities for residents and businesses.

Delivering change now: We’ve started to work on the feedback received to respond to the shared ambitions. Improvements include:

• Kings Cafe
• Burnaby Bee’s and Tennyson Way community garden
• Arts trail
• Street lighting improvements at Burnaby Parade
• Community clean-up days
• Transforming The Beacon into a space for Westside Community Association

Any plan for the future must work for everyone who lives and works here, so we want to hear from everyone who cares about this community, whether you work or live here, whether you are a Sovereign Network Group customer or not future changes may impact you.

Don’t worry, there are still ways to find out more information and speak to us – we’d love to hear from you. We can arrange a home visit for members of the team to come and visit you; they will always have SNG ID badges. Just email yourcommunity@sovereign.org.uk and ask for a visit.

Sovereign Network Group (SNG) is a housing association and landlord of affordable homes for a variety of people and homes of different tenures, mainly for rent, but also for low cost home ownership. 

Our core mission is to provide great service to our residents and customers. To do this, we look to actively invest in our properties and the places where they are located and offer services in the communities where our homes are located, to help people and their neighbourhoods be the best they can be.  

It is a priority for SNG to bring investment to Buckskin and South Ham, as our assessment of this area and feedback from our customers, tells us that there are things that could be better for the whole area and so we are looking at the area as a whole, not just our customers’ properties.

To look at opportunities for improvements and change, Sovereign Network Group (SNG) have formed a partnership with Hill Group called the Sovereign Hill Partnership. This helps bring additional expertise and capability to look at the options and identify the plan for the future.

The Hill Group is an award-winning housebuilder who have been selected to partner with SNG for their specialist expertise in construction.  

Family-owned and operated, their aim is to be the most trusted provider of high-quality homes in the UK. Hill build in the region of 2,000 homes a year and, as well as specialising in new homes and community place-making, they work in partnership with local authorities and housing associations to provide affordable housing and deliver great new spaces. Hill also has a proven history of providing high-quality facilities, including education, health, community and commercial spaces.  

As well as their track record, a key reason for their appointment was their alignment with our values. The community is at the heart of every project Hill deliver, to ensure a positive contribution to the places and people living and working in and around their developments. Hill creates mixed, integrated, sustainable, and inclusive communities that thrive, providing a long-term legacy. The decision to appoint Hill Group was approved by the SNG Board, including tenant members.  

Hill have been awarded five stars by the Home Builders Federation for eight years in a row, demonstrating their credentials. This recognition highlights the trust and satisfaction of their customers, with over 90% saying they would recommend them to a friend.  As a top 10 housebuilder, this award reflects their unwavering commitment to quality, building strong communities, and delivering exceptional customer satisfaction -   shown in their Trip Advisor reviews.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) has identified this area as one of the strategic priorities for investment and change. This is set out in their recently published Housing Strategy, and their Adopted Local Plan 2011-2029. They also own land in the area; and many of the roads and green spaces are owned by them.   

We will also work with Hampshire County Council, the Diocese of Portsmouth, and community services (including health services, schools, churches, and community centres). We would like to work with everyone who has a stake in this community.

We know any change can bring feelings of uncertainty for some residents. We have and will continue to offer one-to-one meetings with residents who have expressed significant concerns, so they have the chance to talk this through, and also receive appropriate signposting.   

We would encourage anyone with a mental health condition to seek appropriate support. 

The following local partners may be able to offer specific support:  

• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare offer mental health services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – both in the community and in their inpatient services. They have a list of services available on their website. Visit Hampshire and the IOW website .
• Andover Mind - Providing support, advice and information in Basingstoke, for anyone affected by mental health distress. Visit the Andover Mind website to find out more
• Basingstoke Counselling Services - Offering an affordable service for one-to-one and couples counselling for adults. Visit the Basingstoke Counselling Services website  to find out more
• Basingstoke Wellbeing Centre - Short-term outcome-focused workshops, courses and support on many mental health issues. Learn more about the services available.
• SEEDL platform- offers free online wellness courses, including guided relaxation readings, desk yoga, and training around mental wellbeing. Learn more about SEEDL .
• Learn more about other sources of support available .

Please contact our customer service centre, and we will be happy to help. You can either call us on 0300 5000 926, or email contact@sng.org.uk.

The project is still in the early stages. If there is the potential for your home to be improved and refurbished, we’ll let you know well in advance and discuss what the process will be for this.  If more substantial changes are needed, you’ll have plenty of notice, and we’ll work closely with you to find a new home in the right area that suits your needs. In most cases, we’ll also assist with the costs involved. 

Where we have identified early potential sites, we have already been in touch with those that are impacted. Whatever changes may go ahead, you’ll have a dedicated SNG team member supporting you throughout the process.  

For further reassurance, all assured tenancies with SNG (or any other social housing landlord) have specific rights in law, meaning you would have a right to an assured tenancy on another home. We would always discuss what it means for individuals at the point of any potential move.   

If you’re living in Buckskin or South Ham on a temporary basis, the expectation is that you’ll move on to a permanent home by bidding on vacancies through Basingstoke HomeBid. We can support you in doing this. 

Based on the information we have about our SNG properties, we know there are homes and properties which are becoming difficult to maintain, and there are others which are not energy efficient and/or are costly to run.   

In addition, from discussions with the local community, and looking at our technical surveys, we know there are key issues with how the streets are laid out, adding to concerns over safety and walkability, green/open spaces are poorly designed and subsequently not well used, there are a lot of  ‘islands of green’ that are underused and have little to no obvious function, and the local centres are not offering people what they want/need. We also know there are issues with some public services, lack of public transport and access to well-paying jobs.  

By working with CDAs we have developed a set of principles. Take a look at what this could mean here.

Some of our homes are currently vacant because, due to their age, design, or condition, they require significant investment before they can be re-let. In some cases, these homes have become increasingly challenging to repair and maintain to the standard we want to provide for our customers. 

We remain committed to keeping our existing homes in a good state of repair and providing quality homes for our residents. Before bringing these properties back into use, we need to carefully consider the level of investment required and whether this represents the best long-term solution for both our customers and the wider community. 

Where properties can be brought up to the required standard and made suitable for letting, we will do so, ensuring they can provide much-needed homes for people in the local community. Where homes remain empty, we continue to monitor and maintain them while decisions are made about their future. 

Your tenancy agreement is the legal contract that describes your rights and responsibilities (as the tenant) and the rights and responsibilities of your landlord.   

It also sets out the rent and service charges you need to pay for your home and describes the services you can expect from your landlord.   

There are some differences between tenancy agreements depending on when you moved in.    

The best way to know exactly what your rights are is to look at your individual agreement.    

If you’re an SNG customer, please contact us  if you have any questions about your tenancy agreement.  

• Call: 0300 5000 926  
• Email: yourcommunity@sovereign.org.uk

Assured tenancy agreement  

An assured tenancy is a type of tenancy agreement that offers a very high level of security and can only be brought to an end where a landlord proves to a court that they have one of the specified grounds for possession.

If your home falls within an area for proposed regeneration, you have certain rights in law, and you would have a right to an assured tenancy on another home. You’d have plenty of notice, and we'd work closely with you to find a new home, in the right area, that suits you as well as providing compensation and support with the costs involved.     

We would always discuss what it means for individuals at the point of any potential move.  

Assured tenancy agreement (non-social) 

 If you choose to rent a property from SNG on a commercial basis, it is important to understand that this type of tenancy does not provide any entitlement to be rehoused by SNG when the tenancy ends. When the tenancy comes to an end, you would be expected to make your own housing arrangements. We can signpost you to help with this if needed. 

Assured Shorthold tenancy agreement  

If your accommodation is temporary, you’ll have an Assured Shorthold tenancy.   

As an Assured Shorthold tenant, you have fewer rights and less security. For example, you’re not eligible to apply for a mutual exchange and your landlord can give you notice if you breach the terms of your tenancy.  If you’re living in Buckskin or South Ham on a temporary basis, the expectation is that you’ll move on to a permanent home by bidding on vacancies through Basingstoke HomeBid. We can support you in doing this.   

License agreement  

You might have this type of agreement if you live in temporary accommodation or a supported scheme. If your home falls within an area for proposed regeneration, you’d have plenty of notice, and we’d work closely with you to find a new home. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please speak to the temporary accommodation officer that you already work with.

We always seek to fulfil our obligations as a landlord and are wholly committed to make sure our customers remain safe, happy and comfortable in their homes. We typically spend around £5 million every year on repairs in the area and would ask residents to continue to report any repairs or concerns so we can follow up. We will continue to repair, invest in and maintain homes.  

Alongside looking at the options for improvements, SNG has created a new locality team to provide the Buckskin and South Ham neighbourhoods with dedicated housing officers and improved customer service in terms of maintenance, repairs and response times.

If you’re an existing social rent customer, we would make sure you have a chance to move to another social rented property. Your rent may be different from what you pay now, depending on the size and facilities in your new home, but it would be calculated using the same formula that’s set by the government.

Adult children may be considered part of your household if they are an existing permanent member of your home and it is reasonable to expect that they will continue living with you in the future. 

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) will assess each household individually as part of its housing allocation process. This assessment will determine who is included as part of your household when considering rehousing options. 

As part of this process, you may be asked to provide evidence that your adult child normally lives with you and forms part of your household on a permanent basis. This could include documents showing that they use your address as their main home. 

If your adult child would prefer to find a home of their own, we would encourage them to explore the full range of housing options available to them. This could include registering for housing with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and joining Basingstoke HomeBid, as well as considering private rented accommodation, shared ownership, low-cost home ownership schemes and other affordable housing opportunities. Taking steps to understand these options now will help them make informed choices about their future housing needs. 

If you'd like to talk through your circumstances and explore the options available to you and your family.

• Email: yourcommunity@sovereign.org.uk

If you need to move in the future, then we’ll work with you to provide the right-sized home for you.  If your current home has more bedrooms than you need, known as under-occupying, then you’d normally be eligible for a home with an extra bedroom on top of your bedroom entitlement.

Your input is vital in shaping the future of the community, and we want to ensure everyone has a voice in the current planning stages.

While the specifics of the project are still not decided, your participation will help us understand your needs and concerns, which will inform the project's design. Your involvement is completely voluntary, but it would be really valuable to us.

As the project develops and more detailed plans are created, we’ll be in touch if your property is potentially impacted and contact you directly to discuss the implications in detail and answer any questions you may have.

The project is still in its very early stages, and when we know more, we’ll get in touch with you directly if we need to buy your home and talk through what that means for you.

If your home is needed for the project, we will make all reasonable efforts to speak with you and come to an agreement. In addition to the market value of your home, there would be a compensation payment.  

We would also cover your moving costs, professional fees and other costs that are reasonably incurred as a result of the purchase of your home.

If we have contacted you about buying your home, you will be invited to appoint an independent valuer (typically a RICS registered Chartered Surveyor). We’ll cover the cost of this. Because you appoint them, they will be completely independent from us.

Their valuation will be based on the current market value of your property, without considering any potential impact from the regeneration plans, but taking into account any improvements you may have made, and this valuation will be used to inform the financial offer that will be made to you. 

We’re aware that this may be an issue for some households and want to be able to help you with this. We would look at the options that are available to find the right one for you and your family. Where necessary, we will consider providing financial assistance, dependent on your circumstances.

SNG does not have powers of compulsory purchase.  If acquiring your home is necessary, we would do everything we can to agree on the purchase of your home with you.  

On large regeneration projects, compulsory purchase powers are sometimes used, where it’s not possible to reach agreements.  If that were the case, it would be a public authority such as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) that would need to consider whether to make a compulsory purchase order.

We recognise that uncertainty can sometimes influence buyers' perceptions and individual selling experiences. However, properties continue to be marketed and sold locally, and there is currently no evidence that homeowners are unable to sell their properties in the usual way. We are closely monitoring the local housing market for any signs or effects.

To date, there are properties going on the market through local estate agents and selling. SNG are acquiring some homes, but not all, so there’s no indication that you wouldn’t be able to sell your home in the normal way. If you’re thinking of selling in the future, we’d always advise that you obtain at least three estate agents’ values for your home.   

We appreciate that market conditions and personal circumstances can vary. We're happy to speak with any potential sellers or buyers who may have questions or concerns.  

We have been acquiring some homes in Buckskin and South Ham as they come on to the market or people approach us directly asking to sell.

Increasing the number of properties we own in the area helps provide homes for people in housing need in the borough and gives us more options for rehousing in the future.

This is something we’ll consider, depending on the location of your property and other factors such as your property type and when you are looking to move. 

Please email us via yourcommunityshared@sovereign.org.uk if you’d like to discuss this.

If, after working together and looking at the options, your home is in a part of the area where the plan for the future identifies redevelopment, then we’d wish to buy your house from you. 

We recognise the significant impact any redevelopment would have on homeowners. These plans are at an early stage and depend on a number of factors that are yet to be finalised. However, if your home were ultimately to be included in an area designated for regeneration, we’d work closely with you to provide comprehensive support and assistance to make sure that you’re not financially disadvantaged.   

Should you wish, we’d also give you support in finding a new property.

If after working together and looking at the options, your home is in a part of the area where the plan for the future identifies redevelopment, then we would wish to buy your house from you.  

We recognise the significant impact any redevelopment would have on homeowners. These plans are at an early stage and depend on a number of factors that are yet to be finalised. However, if your home were ultimately to be included in an area designated for regeneration, we would work closely with you to provide comprehensive support and financial assistance to make sure that you are not financially disadvantaged.    

Should you wish, we would also provide support in finding a new property.  

SNG does not have powers of compulsory purchase.  If acquiring your home is necessary, we would do everything we can to agree on the purchase of your home with you.  On large regeneration projects, compulsory purchase powers are sometimes used, where it’s not possible to reach agreements.  If that were the case, it would be a public authority such as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) that would need to consider whether to make a compulsory purchase order.

Any valuation carried out by SNG will consider the condition of the property, including any improvements or alterations made, such as a new kitchen or bathroom, in the same way that any prospective buyer would if the property were being sold on the open market.

It’s important to us that we support local businesses in the area and that they’re given the opportunity to thrive. If the business premises you own are ultimately impacted by the plans, we’ll support you to find an appropriate location to relocate to. This may include financial support with the costs of relocation where relevant criteria are met. 

We know there are a number of thriving small businesses in the community. If you run a business from your home and any changes do go ahead, you’ll have a dedicated SNG team member supporting you throughout the process. 

Yes, we want to hear from everyone. Please visit the website, or attend a drop-in where we can discuss your thoughts in more detail. Alternatively you can contact us at: yourcommunity@sovereign.org.uk