Plans to build a 6,000-home development in the Hampshire countryside have taken a "huge" step forward.
Fareham Borough Council has approved design codes that will shape the character and appearance of Welborne Garden Village, which will occupy a huge site north of the M27.
Work on the multi-million-pound project is due to start in 2024 after years of debate.
The Welborne Plan requires the main builder, Buckland Development, to produce a set of documents detailing how the many elements of the scheme will fit together.
They will cover topics such as tree-lined streets, how the homes will be accessed, and the importance of cutting carbon emissions through features including a district heating scheme.
Now the first two documents, the Strategic Design Code and the Streets Manual, have been approved by the planning committee.
The chairman, Cllr Nick Walker, said: "Both the council and Buckland are determined that Welborne Garden Village will be built to the highest levels of design, so this is a huge step.
"Everything that follows at Welborne will be influenced by these documents.
"I'm grateful to the teams at Buckland, our council, and Hampshire County Council who have worked so hard to get us to this landmark moment."
Buckland's managing director, John Beresford, added: "The approval of the design codes is a great step towards delivering Welborne.
"The principles embedded within both the Design Code and the Streets Manual will make Welborne very different from the new developments we often see being built.
"Tree-lined streets with grassed verges alongside homes designed in the local style with front gardens will be a distinctive feature.
"Our design codes focus as much on the greenery as they do the built form, which will ensure neighbourhoods are full of character and charm. We’ve received some great feedback on the designs for Welborne and, as construction starts in 2024, people will see these principles become reality.”
READ MORE: Major M27 revamp for Welborne dealt major setback
Welborne Garden Village will be built on 1,000 acres of farmland between Fareham and Wickham.
As well as 6,000 homes it will provide schools, shops, and green spaces, plus a raft of healthcare and leisure facilities.
Speaking in September the borough council's executive member for planning and development, Cllr Simon Martin, said: "The council has a clear vision for Welborne, and well-designed housing that meets the needs of the wider Fareham community is at the heart of this vision."
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