A request for screening opinions to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council outlined plans for 650 residential units, a local centre, a primary school, commercial land, and a country park on a 57-hectare parcel of land at Folly Lane in the north-east of Bramley.
In Overton, a request for a scoping opinion proposes development of up to 400 residential dwellings, landscaping and play space, to redevelop the land on the former Overton Paper Mill site and associated water treatment facility at Papermill Lane.
The zombie video game Welcome to Basingstoke came to PS5, showing players what the town would be like in an apocalypse, complete with their own versions of the police station, road signs, car parks and the Willis Museum.
At the Inspire Awards, St Michael's Hospice won 'Winner of Winners' and 'Sustainable Champion', with judges impressed with the hospice's dedication to reducing its energy consumption by over 40 per cent.
Inspire Awards (Image: Destination Basingstoke)
The hospice also received news that it would be awarded £258,000 as part of the Government's £75m Plan for Change, helping to ensure patients received high-quality care in a comfortable setting.
Buckskin and South Ham residents rallied to call on SNG for more transparency over the proposed regeneration project.
The Save BASH (Buckskin and South Ham) committee invited locals to share their views on the project, and learn about the committee's goals and upcoming initiatives.
In a heartwarming community tale, residents of South Warnborough celebrated as Post Office Scandal victim and campaigner Jo Hamilton was awarded an OBE for her services to justice after she was falsely prosecuted for a shortfall of £36,000 at her Post Office branch in 2006.
The community of South Warnborough enjoyed a party in celebration of Jo Hamilton (Image: Sean Dillow)
August was a month for new beginnings with a new branch of The Street Bakeshop in Lychpit, Raai Indian restaurant, Jetts Gym and The Vine at Hannington opening and announcements for a new flagship Mango store and Popeyes Chicken.
Laverstoke Park Farm held its last CarFest South, with Chris Evans leading the festivities, showcasing Travis, Rita Ora and Madness, as well as Busted, Sam Ryder, Squeeze, Kim Wilde, The Lightning Seeds and The Boomtown Rats.
Chris Evans at Carfest 2025 (Image: Peter Nicholson)
The festival, which has been held annually in Overton since it began in 2012, will be moving to Silverstone in 2026.
Dance Moms and Celebrity Big Brother star Jojo Siwa visited iFly for indoor skydiving, dubbing the town her 'new stomping grounds.'
Bramley residents assembled to protest against a 650-home development at Folly Farm, which would include a reconfiguration of the highways, an extension of the primary school and a country park, on a 57-hectare parcel of land at Folly Farm.
Pensioners at Lady Susan Court and Emma Court at the Top of Town started a petition against a proposed bus lane which would change the routes of buses 1 and 3.
Residents only discovered the proposed changes by talking to a bus driver, and said they feel 'frustrated, ignored and not considered' by the council, especially as they use the buses multiple times a week.
Protesters with their signs (Image: Newsquest)
Rainbows took over the town for Basingstoke Pride, which saw the parade march through the town before celebrations began at the Pride Fair in the Ampitheatre, headlined by Drag Race UK star Victoria Scone.
In Basingstoke Town news, ex-Saints star Charlie Austin joined the club, scoring his first goal in his debut match, against Wimborne Town.
Basingstoke Pride 2025. Celebrating love, unity and embracing diversity and inclusion. The parade (Image: Sean Dillow)
Basingstoke was also appointed a new Bishop, the Venerable Kelly Betteridge, who took a tour across the area in late August.
The re-opening of the town centre Post Office was delayed due to 'unforeseen circumstances', after originally announcing an opening date of April 30 and then July 9. They set a revised date of October 1.
September saw crowds of comic and movie fans flock to Basing View to watch the filming of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Filming saw a military vehicle, concrete barriers, police cars, and fire engines transforming Basingstoke into New York, complete with explosions!
Spider-Man filming (Image: Darren Burton)
Chris Martin made an appearance at a party in Overton, for a secret show at the home of multi-millionaire and singer-songwriter Miel de Botton, for which he was reportedly paid 'millions.'
Opposition mounted to proposed homes in Upper Swallick with residents from Cliddesden, Ellisfield, Winslade, Old Basing and Lychpit gathering to protest outside of a council meeting.
It followed the release of a draft local plan that outlines plans to create at least 2,500 houses in Upper Swallick, with a total of 4,500 homes across Basingstoke in the next 15 years.
In group news, Basingstoke launched its walking football club and North Hampshire Prostate Cancer Support Group celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Upper Swallick housing development protest (Image: Ruth Burnet)
Plans to build more than 240 homes in Tadley were put back on the table, with developers insisting the scheme could bring "real benefits" to the community, despite residents' fears it will overwhelm local infrastructure.
Basingstoke-based developer Bewley Homes confirmed it has submitted a revised pack of information to support its current application for up to 245 homes on land off Skates Lane. The company originally submitted its application in February 2024, but the proposals faced a wave of opposition and were later put on hold for further consultation.
Basingstoke also hosted the Baton of Hope, a national charity campaign which spreads awareness of suicide.
Baton bearers from Basingstoke paraded it through the town centre on a mission to bring about a change in the way suicide is approached and how those affected by it are supported.
October was a big one for openings, with the Post Office opening in the town centre, after being without one since WHSmith closed in February.
Staff at the new Post Office (Image: Alice Tomlinson)
A new bowling alley and entertainment hub, Superbowl UK, was opened by Pussycat Dolls star Kimberley Wyatt in Festival Place, as a new neighbour to Hans Buffet.
This month also saw the reopening of Planet Ice, following its closure for refurbishment since November 2024.
In a wave of excitement, the new drive for food waste collection began, with tiny bins being put out on streets across the town.
Kimberly Wyatt, centre, prepares to cut the ribbon (Image: Polymedia)
Clothes shop Sophie Street opened in Festival Place and Matt Le Tisser officially opened Duel Sports Bar, a second-floor refurbishment of nightclub Plush, with karaoke rooms, a stage and cinema-style sports screen.
Superhero fans went wild as Tom Holland was spotted in his Spider-Man suit on the set of filming in Basing View, with Michael Mando, who plays Scorpion, also returning for the franchise.
Tom Holland suited up! (Image: Batuhan Şafak via @batuhansafak)
Over 6,200 people signed a petition to save Down Grange, opposing the council's plan to relocate the pitch and putt to make way for a Great Wolf Resorts water park development.
Calls for the council to "urgently" consider an alternative site for the new six-hole golf course and driving range facility were shot down by the council.
Charlie Austin left Basingstoke Town, joining Hungerford FC after an injury.
November was very trade-focused with Basingstoke's first Business Week, launched by Luke Murphy MP, Destination Basingstoke, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
After Spider-Man production ended, the area was still a hotspot for filming with a series 'about lawyers', believed to be HBO's WAR recording outside Mountbatten House.
Tory Simpson and Lisa Graves in Thread & Toast (Image: Tory Simpson)
An exclusive report by the Gazette uncovered that AWE will be making 400-500 people redundant, but their overall headcount will stay the same as they hire for different roles, after receiving a £15bn government investment for its nuclear warhead programme.
Spices and Spirits won Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 National Curry Awards, and Spicy Tadka was crowned Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 Euro Asia Curry Awards.
Both MenKind and craft café Thread & Toast opened their doors, and the Dragonfly in Popley reopened after a £300,000 refurbishment, with a revamped bar and family lounge.
Alex Sampford celebrates as goalie is left in heap (Image: Chris Callaghan)
The Basingstoke Bison had their first home win at their second game back in the Basingstoke Arena after two years away. They defeated Milton Keynes and then went on to win six games in a row.
An investigation by the Gazette found that the town centre has 'bounced back' after the pandemic, with footfall not slowing down.
A spokesperson for Festival Place told the Gazette that it has 'consistently outperformed the UK' national benchmark for footfall every year since 2019.
Participants in their fancy dress (Image: Newsquest)
The Junior Park Run celebrated its 400th run, with participants donning fancy dress for the 2km race.
The Mutton pub in Hazeley Heath raised £30,000 for DEBRA, a national charity supporting people living with epidermolysis bullosa. The charity dinner featured an appearance by ex-footballer and DEBRA vice president Graeme Souness.
Graeme Souness and The Mutton owner, Jon Taylor. (Image: The Mutton)
December arrived with a mass of Christmas stories, including the start of the panto, which saw Raven's James McKenzie take the stage as Abanazar in Aladdin.
David Walliams also made an appearance, dressing as an elf to meet fans in Waterstones and sign his new book Santa and Son.
David Walliams in the store! (Image: Waterstones Basingstoke)
Brighton Hill head teacher Chris Edwards started his GOAT Boys initiative, looking for male mentors to help build confidence in boys.
It was launched in response to the Centre for Social Justice's report The Lost Boys: State of the Nation (2025) which highlights a growing crisis of identity, belonging, and aspiration among young boys and men in the UK.
It was revealed tech firm Exertis UK, based in Chineham Park, plans to cut 90 per cent of its workforce after it was sold to private equity firm Aurealius for £100m.
The shock announcement was formally revealed to employees just weeks before Christmas on December 10. The headcount is due to be reduced from 1,200 to just 130 members of staff
In a win for the town centre, it was revealed that out of the 31 vacant units in September 2024, 29 had been filled with permanent and temporary businesses, with a footfall of £20m people this year.
Uke Jam celebrates 100th session (Image: Sarah Gaunt)
Plans to demolish Arena's Quantum House in Basing View to build a multi-storey car park were filed, to create nearly 500 spaces for Grosvenor House.
Viables Community Association marked its 100th ukulele jam and Afrizi was named African Restaurant of the Year for Hampshire at the South England Prestige Awards.