Your questions answered

We hope we answered your questions during our meeting, however just in case there was something you forgot to ask please have a read through this guide which we hope covers most of the areas you may have concerns about.

Norn Hill Road is dangerously fast – what speed restrictions will be put into place? 

Road safety is an important concern and we’ll work closely with Hampshire County Council Highways to ensure suitable speed limits are in place and that all construction site traffic is controlled with a designated route and delivery times.

Can the Norn Hill exit from the roundabout be opened up to cars again?

Hampshire County Council Highways currently oppose this but we will continue to discuss this as the planning application progresses.

Will there be allocated parking?

Most of the car parking will be unallocated so that we can provide as many car parking spaces as possible in the area.

Which school will take the extra children?

Hampshire County Council are the education authority for the area and they will seek a financial contribution from the development to help cover any additional places needed in the local schools.

Can the woodland be thinned or a woodland walk introduced?

Our regeneration proposals will provide improvements to the woodland. Our landscape designer will produce some designs to improve the woods as well as recreational facilities for young people. We’ll share our proposals with you in March.

Will the back gardens have gates and locks?

Yes, all the back gardens will be private and made secure.

Will you be providing footpaths along Westray Close?

Yes, included in the new design are a series of new footpaths along the roads to make it far safer for pedestrians to access the green open space.

What is the timescale for the consultation?

We have a strict time limit on the funding for this project which means that any regeneration work for the area must be completed by 2015.

Our community consultation began in September and will last until January 2012. At the end of this a final plan will be produced based on your feedback, then developed into a planning application to be submitted to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (BDBC) by spring 2012.

When would any building work start?

If approved any work could begin on site as early as Winter 2012 with new building commencing in early 2013. Any new homes could be ready in 2014 with the whole development completed in 2015.

What is shared ownership?

Shared ownership means that instead of raising a full mortgage on a new home, you buy a share of it and pay a subsidised rent on the other part to Sentinel.

In most cases you start with a 40% share and if your income increases over a period of years you can buy more shares and increase your equity in the home, even purchasing it outright when you can afford it.

For more information about shared ownership please contact our Homescope Team on 0800 195 5515 or email Homescope@sentinelha.org.uk

Will there be garages with the new houses?

Garage provision for some of the new homes hasn’t been ruled out, but further design work and discussions with BDBC planners is required before this level of detail is determined. Adequate levels of parking will be provided with the new homes but the overall number will be agreed in discussion with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council planners.

Within our design for the new homes, we will provide generous storage space; sheds are usually provided for houses (but not flats) and cycle and bin storage will also be required.

If the area is redeveloped, will I have to move home?

If we all decide that the area should be redeveloped, we will have to move residents out of the maisonette blocks, so we can build the new homes. The earliest anyone would need to move is the start of 2012 although, if you want to move before this date you will be able to do so.

Where could I move to?

Sentinel Assured and Protected Assured tenants will be given a choice to move back into one of the newly built homes, or move permanently to another area.

If you would prefer to move back into one of the new homes, we will aim to match your needs to the types of home available. In the meantime we will move you to another home until the new development is built. If you choose to move permanently, you will be given additional priority on Basingstoke Homebid.

You will then be able to bid on any advertised property from any housing association, depending on your needs.

For more details, please visit www.basingstokehomebid.org.uk or speak to your Neighbourhood Co-ordinator about your housing options.

If you wish to move outside of the Basingstoke and Deane area, you will need to register on the housing waiting list for that council area.

Sentinel staff will help you in making your application, but cannot influence offers of accommodation.

If I want to move temporarily when would that happen and how long would it be for?

If we redevelop the area, building work could start as early as Autumn 2012. We’d expect the first new homes to be ready in 2013 with the whole development completed in 2015.

If you wanted to stay in the neighbourhood and move back into a newly built home, you would be moved to a temporary home in the Spring or Summer of 2012.

You would stay in this temporary home for between one and three years. We will work closely with you to find you a suitable temporary home.

If I move back into a newly built home, will the rent and tenancy stay the same?

The rent will depend on the home you move back into, so you may need to pay more rent or the rent could be lower, depending on the property size and the amenities. You will keep the same type of tenancy as before (e.g. an Assured tenant will be given a new Assured tenancy).

Will I get any financial help if you move me?

Yes, if we move you to another home either permanently or temporarily we will help cover the costs of moving with a disturbance payment which may include:

Removals – Sentinel will organise and pay for the removals. We will do this for each move you need to make as part of the project.

Appliances – We will organise and pay for the disconnecting and reconnecting of gas and electrical appliances, such as cookers.

Storage of Possessions – If you move into temporary accommodation and storage is needed for some of your belongings, we will organise this for you and deduct the cost from your disturbance payment.

Telephone landline – We will organise and pay for the disconnection and reconnection of your landline telephone and one extension.

Mail – We will cover the costs of redirecting your mail.

You will also be given a home loss payment which is set by Government, the current amount is £4,700 and will be paid when you move out of your existing home, providing you have lived there for 12 months or more by the time you move out.

If I decide to move now, will financial help still be available?

You will get financial help to move if it’s decided that the new development will go ahead. Once that decision is made you will be able to apply for home loss and disturbance payments. This will be paid when you move out of your existing home.

What payments will I receive if I move into a temporary property, then move back into one of the newly built Sentinel homes?

Home loss payments can only be paid once, so you will receive a home loss payment when you first move from your existing home.

You will not receive a home loss payment when you move from a temporary home back into a newly built Sentinel home. We will help to cover the costs of all the moves you make as part of the redevelopment project.

Will there will be any homes specifically designated for older people?

We are meeting with all residents to help identify everyone’s needs. This will enable the new homes being built to include ones with special design features or adaptations where needed. The cost of moving or re-providing adaptations is covered by the disturbance payment.