Plans to build a £50m commercial and retail hub at the centre of Welborne Garden Village have been unveiled.

The proposed development will form a key part of the 6,000-home scheme, which will occupy a huge site north of the M27 near Fareham.

Buckland Development has submitted an application to the borough council and aims to start work later this year.

READ MORE: Welborne Garden Village heating from underground reservoir

A Buckland spokesperson said the move marked a pivotal step in the creation of a thriving new community where 15,000 people would "live, work, and play".

Welborne Village Centre will boast a raft of facilities, including a primary school, nursery, GP surgery and pharmacy.

The spokesperson said it would serve as a cornerstone for the Welborne community, supporting businesses and creating a vibrant social hub, with commercial and community buildings mixed with homes.

The design has been inspired by picturesque Hampshire market towns such as Alresford, Stockbridge, and Wickham.

It will boast one and two-bedroom apartments alongside three and four-bedroom apartments, reflecting the scheme's overall mix of affordable housing and inclusive living.

Facilities in the retail hub could include pub/hotel, plus space for a butcher, bakery, café, and restaurant. A community hall crowned with a bell tower is also planned.

READ MORE: Fareham Welborne development 'is destroying Knowle'

"The entire Village Centre uses a bespoke design code which will ensure it fits within the Chesterfield neighbourhood, where it will be built and integrate with the rest of Welborne," said the spokesperson.

Favourable lease terms will enable local companies to establish themselves in the village.

John Beresford, managing director of Buckland Development, said: "In the design of the village centre we've thoughtfully merged Hampshire's heritage with the principles of sustainability.

"Our goal is to create a centre that becomes the perfect image of what we'd like to call home, a place that is warm, friendly, and full of shops and places to socialise.

"We're creating economic, environmental and social value that will last for generations."

Council leader Sean Woodward said the development of Welborne Garden Village, the first village to be built in the Fareham area for 40 years, was a landmark scheme for the borough.

"It will bring a wave of benefits, not only for the future residents of Welborne but also for our wider community," he said.

"Our close working relationship with Buckland is a clear commitment to enhancing the fabric of our borough, creating opportunities, fostering communities and setting new standards to which others will aspire."

Initial preparatory work is already underway and the first homes are expected to be delivered in late 2024.