THE FUTURE of Chineham District shopping centre will be decided next week.

Councillors will decide a major planning application on the site on Wednesday (July 1), which, if approved, will see the much of the site demolished and redeveloped, implementing new restaurants, more public space and a new hotel.

The plans were first submitted by developers Tellon Capital in late 2018, and have seen various amendments in the 18 months since then.

However, as previously reported, the planned cinema has been dropped from proposals after consultation found that only 27 per cent of respondents wanted a cinema on the site.

Additionally, the library building will remain, despite a decision looming on whether it will be closed by Hampshire County Council. Tellon themselves have come out against the proposal, saying: "We appreciate, not only how important it is to the community, but the benefits it brings, and underline our wish to have the library retained."

A spokesperson for Tellon Capital said: "In revising the plans, we have striven to keep the uses identified as most important whilst reducing the scale of the scheme and maintaining viability.

"We now want to progress and deliver these enhancements to this important community asset."

Additionally, they are “actively seeking a new home for the post office at the centre” - one of the most popular features according to the developers' own consultation.

Officers recommend that the council's Development Control committee should approve the application, subject to a list of conditions, on Wednesday.

The 12-person committee, chaired by Chineham representative Cllr Paul Miller, will have the final say on the proposals.

The planning documents shed more light on what the final scheme would entail - and you can see the new floor plan here.

The documents read: "Planning permission is sought for a large scale redevelopment of the existing centre in order to provide additional floorspace within a reconfigured facility with enhanced retail, community and leisure facilities.

"This will require the demolition of the existing buildings which enclose the central north/south courtyard, extending northwards to include the clock tower building.

"The demolition excludes the Chineham Library, Tesco superstore, units to the south of Chineham Library and the larger western retail units."

The new plans will see a new eastern terrace built on the current car park, with four large retail units on the ground floor and office and leisure space on the first floor. Public toilets will be available, whilst an internal courtyard will be built for the offices. A new takeaway kiosk will be built in front of these stores.

The car park there will be relocated to the north of the centre, providing 253 spaces.

To the south of the new car park, a new, four-storey northern terrace will be built, which includes ten units for 'flexible uses', including potentially retail and restaurants. This is also where the entrance to the new 72-bedroom hotel will be, with the reception and restaurant areas on the ground floor and the bedrooms on the floors above.

To the north of the library, six retail units will be built, with the four larger units, which currently contain Matalan, Marks and Spencer and Boots, remaining following a facade refurbishment. The car park which borders these stores will remain, providing 169 spaces. Between the two car parks will be a new pavilion building, featuring three restaurants or cafes. Outside of this will be a public open space, with a potential water feature.

Elsewhere, the buildings to the south of the library, currently where Domino's is situated, will remain unchanged, with a new kiosk for flexible use.

The Tesco superstore and petrol station, as well as the large southern car park, will remain unchanged.

Bus stops will be located adjacent to the north car park, near to the roundabout.

You can see the full plans by searching 18/03417/FUL on the council's planning website, and you can watch Wednesday's meeting by going to basingstoke.gov.uk/webcast at 2pm.

BDBC Development Control committee:

  • Cllr Paul Miller (Chair, Conservative, Chineham)
  • Cllr Anne Court (Vice Chair, Conservative, Kempshott)
  • Cllr Dave George (Conservative, Whitchurch)
  • Cllr Sven Godesen (Conservative, Basing)
  • Cllr David Leeks (Conservative, Tadley South)
  • Cllr Nicholas Robinson (Conservative, Bramley and Sherfield)
  • Cllr Jane Frankum (Labour, Popley West)
  • Cllr Stephanie Grant (Labour, Buckskin)
  • Cllr Andy McCormick (Labour, Brighton Hill South)
  • Cllr David Potter (Basingstoke and Deane Independent, Popley East)
  • Cllr Chris Tomblin (BDI, Bramley and Sherfield)
  • Cllr Michael Bound (Liberal Democrat, Baughurst and Tadley North)