Whiteley Village Development Begins

1990

The development of Whiteley, on former farmland north of the M27, began in the early 1990s and has continued in phases ever since. The Whiteley Shopping Centre (originally Whiteley Village Outlet Shopping) opened as a retail destination, and residential development followed. The scale of the Whiteley project was unusual for the Fareham area, creating what amounted to a new settlement rather than an extension of an existing one. The shopping centre attracted national brands and drew shoppers from across the region. The residential phases brought thousands of new homes, new schools, and community facilities. The Whiteley Meadows extension, approved in the 2010s, added further housing to the north and east. The development has been controversial. Supporters point to the housing that has been provided, the employment in the retail centre, and the modern facilities. Critics argue that the development has put pressure on local infrastructure, particularly roads and schools, and that the character of a planned settlement lacks the organic quality of the older parts of the borough. Whiteley straddles the boundary between Fareham and Winchester boroughs, which has created administrative complications. The area continues to grow, with further phases of housing planned or under construction.