Hampshire: Relief road opens to transform area with major jobs and homes boost

A relief road has opened in East Hampshire as part of a major regeneration project to transform a former garrison town into a prosperous and sustainable new town with more than 3,000 new homes, 5,500 new jobs, opportunities for apprenticeships and growing businesses as well as an Enterprise Zone.

The new A325 Relief Road provides a free-flowing alternative to the A325 around the village of Bordon, easing congestion and unlocking the longer-term sustainable regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon.

Enterprise M3 LEP, the major investor in the road project, contributed £17.5 million of the £23 million cost – the single largest investment the LEP has made to date. 

Whitehill & Bordon is also home to one of three Enterprise M3 Enterprise Zones, a Future Skills Centre and an Innovation Centre which supports high-potential businesses. The town’s transformation is being developed with a strong focus on sustainable and high environmental standards.

Dave Axam, chair of Enterprise M3 LEP, said:  “The regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a significant impact not only on the economic prospects of this area, but also to create a community of entrepreneurs in high-tech sectors such as advanced engineering , digital and renewable energy technologies, which will secure prosperity for this town, the region and the UK into the future.”

Axam opened the road alongside senior councillor Rob Humby, responsible for environment & transport at Hampshire County Council which shared funding for the project.