HUNDREDS of Basingstoke residents rushed to Oakridge over the weekend in a bid to put their names forward for a limited number of new homes in the area.

A total of 769 people queued at the new Oakridge Hall For All, on Friday and Saturday, to fill in an application form for one of just 52 new homes in Phase Two of the Oakridge regeneration project.

Despite the limited number of homes available, Sentinel Housing Group and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council sent letters to 4,000 people on the waiting list, inviting them to look at the properties.

With the odds at just over 14-to-one for a house, applicants will be considered in terms of the traditional points system, and a new set of criteria aimed at giving priority to applicants with a link to the Oakridge community.

Anyone with children attending Oakridge schools, close family in the area, or another strong link to Oakridge, will have a better chance at being selected for one of the houses.

The controversial move has brought about a mixed response from applicants.

Emily Shamm, 19, shares a bedroom in her parent' home in Hawkley Drive, Tadley, with her partner and baby daughter.

She said: "It's a bit bad really. I don't have any connection with Oakridge at all, but it's somewhere we could be housed, instead of our current cramped conditions.

"We are not very hopeful of being given one of these houses. We thought we might as well come along anyway, but I don't think there's much chance at all."

Kerry Sexton, 26, lives with her partner and two small children in Stag Hill, South Ham.

She said: "We only have about 30 points and you need between 90 and 100 to get a house with the council, so it's worth coming down and trying. But I think houses should still go to those people with the most desperate need, not just those with family in the area."

Barbara Coombs, 57, who currently lives in Mathias Walk, Brighton Hill, said: "I lived in Oakridge for 20 years and most of my friends are in this area. I think this is a good idea. I have never liked the points system. I think it's disgusting. It doesn't give anything to people who have lived and worked here their whole life."

Paula Willis, 24, from Hackwood Road, is looking to move in with her partner, Andrew Saunders, 34, from Gregory Close.

Paula said: "It's a good idea as it gives more people better opportunities. It's good for men and women like us because we haven't been waiting that long. But people are still going to suffer. They need to build more houses."

Cllr Laura James, cabinet member for housing, health and homes, said: "We welcome this initiative. It gives people a say in how and where they want to live. We are able to accommodate applicants according to their personal needs.

"It allows them to consider their preferences for schools, family connections and community links when choosing where to live."

"Although there are a limited number of properties available to let in this phase, there is still another phase to come.

"As with all vacancies for social housing, there are more applicants on the waiting list than vacancies becoming available."

The 52 new homes vary in size from one-bedroomed flats to four-bedroomed houses.

Karen Ayling, Sentinel neighbourhood services manager, said applicants will be sent a letter within the next two weeks to acknowledge their application, and successful applicants will be notified in September.