ANDOVER Town Council is considering buying land to create more sports and recreation facilities for residents. 

The land north of Ox Drove, part of the Locksbridge Park development, in Picket Piece, was initially reserved for a junior sports pitch, but this is no longer required, and the council is now proposing to purchase it to ensure it remains a community asset.

Wates Developments and David Wilson Homes Southern, which own the land, sought planning permission for 16 dwellings, which was approved by Test Valley Borough Council in July, although no building work has started yet.

The proposal to buy the land was discussed during a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 22. 

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Cllr Heather Neate explained the plan for the land, which measures approximately 1.2 acres and is adjacent to open space which benefits from a small car park.

Cllr Katherine Bird said: "This is something the town council should definitely be doing, ensuring these grounds and community spaces are kept for their original purpose, and the promise of community spaces kept to our residents. 

"It feels pretty important that we do whatever we can within sensible parameters, to continue this initial work to the next stage. I think it's a great idea and something we should be doing."

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To meet the cost of purchasing the land, the town council is investigating government funding targeted at investing in assets, which are at risk of being lost to the community.

The Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing (DLUHC) has made a £150m Community Ownership Fund available to help communities, including parish and town councils, take ownership of a physical community asset at risk, such as land, which will benefit locals in the long-term.

The fund is UK-wide and competitive, with regular bidding windows spread until March 2025. 

As part of the process, the town council would also need to be able to demonstrate the site would be able to be maintained in the long-term and in a sustainable way.

The council's intention is to apply for further grants in addition to government funding.

The town clerk said: "Andover Town Council is keen to explore central government funding opportunities to support community spaces that meet the long-term needs of local residents."

The council added that it will consult with residents on how best to use the open space before applying for government funding.

It proposed to continue with a work programme to build the business case for the proposal, with the council to review and make a final decision on the land purchase at a later date.