By Nicholas Moore
CONSTRUCTION of the Village Centre at Welborne is now underway at the new generation sustainable garden village in Hampshire following work in the area recently; thus marking another landmark for the exciting project based just outside of Fareham.
As part of the first phase, the extensive Village Centre will provide access to essential and desirable amenities, creating a strong sense of community from the very beginning. Welborne, once complete, will be a community for 15,000 people to live, work, and play, with connected and energy-efficient homes, integrated into extensive publicly accessible green space.
The enabling works are being delivered by Thakeham, one of the leading housebuilders in the south of England. This will be an innovative joint venture with Buckland, the Master Developer of Welborne. It is expected that, from 2028, residents and visitors will be able to use and enjoy a wide range of local amenities, including independent shops and cafés, a pub, a primary school and a nursery, a GP surgery and a village hall.
Community development is central to this vision, which is why the Village Centre has been prioritised in the first phase. The design draws inspiration from the much-loved character of Hampshire villages such as Alresford, Stockbridge, Bishop’s Waltham and Wickham; combining these traditional qualities with the needs of modern living. The single Design Code for the whole of Welborne has been created by award-winning Town Architect, designer Ben Pentreath.
Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman of Buckland Group, said: “Building a community from the ground up is about more than bricks and mortar. We are delighted to be placing the heart of the community at the centre of the very first phase. Welborne’s Village Centre has always been a key priority because it enhances the sense of place, connection and belonging. The Village Centre will become a bustling focal point, where families, friends and visitors alike will gather, ensuring that Welborne thrives not only now, but for generations to come.”
Every Welborne home will come with pre-installed electric vehicle charging and public charging points will also be available at the Village Centre for those travelling from further afield. A network of pedestrian and cycle paths will connect the centre with the surrounding residential neighbourhoods, encouraging healthier travel alternatives.
Rob Boughton, Chief Executive at Thakeham, added: “Creating the heart of a village the right way really matters. It’s where people bump into each other, catch up over coffee, pick up the essentials, and feel part of something much bigger. That’s why we’re making sure that every brick laid at Welborne is helping build an exceptional centre for this new community. In practice this means ensuring that the village has warm, attractive buildings and is a practical and enjoyable place for people to shop and socialise.”
He concluded his thoughts by saying: “As a housebuilder, we have deep expertise in delivering large-scale, community-focused developments. Welborne represents exactly the kind of ambitious, place-led project we excel at, and we look forward to working closely with Buckland to bring it to life.”
Earlier this year, Welborne opened their Welcome Centre, which includes offering visitors an immersive state-of-the-art digital experience of the new village. Here, they can explore virtual representations of the Village Centre and Welborne’s carefully designed and crafted homes, gaining a clear sense of what the first phase will deliver.
The transformation of Welborne during this first construction phase is just the beginning. Plans also include two further primary schools, a secondary school, a care home and a science and technology park, further enhancing the long-term vision for a flourishing community that is close to nature but also offers easy access to essential social infrastructure. It will also generate local jobs and economic activity, both during the development phase as well as once Welborne is more established.
Readers are encouraged to find out more information about the project and register further interest by visiting www.welborne.co.uk; whilst Fareham Borough Council have a designated page on their website showing the full history alongside regular updates.
PICTURED BY BUCKLAND GROUP: Artist impression of how the new Welborne Garden Village Centre will look once it is completed; this ambitious project being planned over many years.
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