More than 150 people from key organisations gathered to discuss how the town’s future could be shaped following the release of 340 acres of army land. The massive development could include as many as 4,000 homes, together with two new primary schools, shops and community facilities.

Among the participants in the ‘Inquiry by Design’

at Potters International Hotel were Hampshire County Council, Aldershot Civic Society and local housing associations.

The week culminated in a draft ‘masterplan’, which sets out how the land could be used. The aim of the design is to reduce the need to travel by providing most facilities on the doorstep.

Rushmoor Council will use the masterplan to draw up Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), which will be put out for public consultation in the new year.

The planning guidance will be used when deciding future planning applications for the project, the first of which is expected in spring 2004.

Aldershot borough and county councillor Mike Roberts, who sits on the county’s Connaught working group, said the exercise went better than anticipated.

“None of us had any idea of what to expect and we went there with some concerns as to how it would develop.

“Everyone’s views were taken into account.

“What we ended up with in five days can sometimes take five or six months, but there’s still an awful lot of work to do.”

Deputy leader of Rushmoor Council, Cllr Peter Moyle, was equally positive: “The results from the Inquiry by Design exercise offer an exciting urban design, building upon the rich military heritage of Cambridge Military Hospital, Queens Avenue and the parade grounds.

“It is important that Rushmoor Council and its residents continue to be consulted at every stage, to ensure an improved environment, an expanded economy and a bright future for Aldershot.”

The release of the land is part of Project Connaught — the Ministry of Defence plan to update facilities and reduce the size of the Aldershot garrison by 30%. The council has already received several planning applications for the military town.

Rushmoor cabinet member for environment, Cllr Roland Dibbs, said that the proposals represent a “wonderful opportunity” for the town.

The design exercise was hosted by the Prince’s Foundation and organised by English Partnerships, the government’s urban regeneration agency.

English Partnerships’ director David Warburton said: “Following five days of effort by a wide range of stakeholders we now have a plan which will help to provide a sustainable future for this part of Aldershot.”