In 1973, we started a two year research project to understand the impact of major housing expansion in 4 villages surrounding Basingstoke (Oakley, Overton, Kingsclere, Basing).
This took the form of a social survey, to understand what life is like, whether newcomers had integrated, and what community assets were required to manage the development well.
Margaret Livingston described at the time:
“As far as I can see, a check on the effect of the southern expansion on rural communities like Oakley is one part of the scheme of things which seems to have been somewhat neglected. After all, one can’t see a rural area like Oakley expand as fast as it has done- and I think it has been too fast- without spill-offs of a complex character. If we can put our finger on some of these then it will be an important step forward in establishing a guide pattern for future similar developments” Publication called “Rapidly Expanding Rural Villages”
