REACTING to residents’ concerns, Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company has insisted that ecology is at the heart of its plans for Hogmoor Inclosure.

In a letter to The Herald, Stephen Miles criticised the company over its “continual emphasis” that Hogmoor Inclosure was “a waste” as it was no longer used for army training.

He said the land, which will become a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), is actually “a rich heathland habitat, holding the homes of many natural species”.

Mr Miles added that wildlife would be endangered if a “totally human-centred attitude” prevails.

This week James Child, project leader at Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company, explained that a number of ecological measures were being taken to enhance Hogmoor Inclosure.

He said: “We share Mr Miles’s concerns over the impact on the current and historic character of the site, and the notable habitats and species it supports and it is of upmost importance to us that we go about enhancing the enclosure in an ecologically sensitive manner.”

“For this reason we instructed a specialist company, Ecological Planning and Research, to work with us from the outset. The research company is widely considered to be one of the leading professional ecological consultancies that specialises in biodiversity and land-use planning.

“The intention of the SANG is to establish a space where natural habitats can thrive, as well as providing a space that will enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors. In reality, only a small proportion of the site will be for human use, with the majority left as a natural habitat for wildlife.”

He also explained a programme of ongoing management which will see activities such as rotational heather cutting, “which will promote the development of a structurally diverse shifting heathland”.

There will also be a full-time site ranger to lead the long-term conservation management which “will ensure that the Hogmoor Inclosure’s valuable habitats and features will continue to be looked after and protected”.

Mr Child added that the result will be “far” from a “sterile, manicured country park landscape” but will rather be an “ecologically led” area resulting in “restoration, enhancement and diversification” of habitats.

Converting the 54-hectare Hogmoor Inclosure, which has primarily been used for military vehicle training, into a “fantastic green space for the community” will mean that Whitehill and Bordon will host the third largest SANG in the country.

The proposals include a new cycling route, footpaths, public open space, children’s play areas, multi-use games areas, a BMX or skatepark, allotments, landscaping and a public car park.

Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company is a joint venture by developers Taylor Wimpey and Dorchester Regeneration which, together, will develop Prince Philip Barracks with 2,400 new homes, a new town centre, new schools and a raft of facilities.

It took over management of Hogmoor Inclosure in November.