Village Centre preparations begin at Welborne

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.

We are delivering the enabling works as 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.”

Rob Boughton, our founder and CEO, 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.

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.”

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.

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