NEW proposals are being put together for the first new railway station in Hampshire for 25 years, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The plans are for a new £80m two-platform station on the Fareham-Eastleigh line at the Western edge of Welborne – a proposed 6,000 home garden village.

It comes after Network Rail and the council undertook a feasibility study into a new railway station in November.

The results of the study, which came out this week, suggested a railway station at Welborne would be well used.

Potential sites have been identified along the existing Fareham to Eastleigh line, with the recommended option being within the boundaries of Welborne itself.

The new station could serve a population base of over 20,000 people.

Councillor Seán Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “The findings of this feasibility study are extremely promising for Welborne garden village and for residents as a whole.

"A railway station at Welborne is part of our vision for a well-connected thriving new community and we recognise the strong employment and social benefits that this would bring.

"As a result it is our aim to work with the appropriate partners to make this happen and, most importantly at this early stage, to ensure that we do not make any planning decisions that could prejudice the future delivery of a railway station at Welborne.”

Councillor Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “I welcome this work which demonstrates that a rail connection is technically feasible, and could form part of a long term transport strategy for the new community as it develops into the future.”

John Beresford, managing director at Buckland Development Ltd, the developers behind Welborne, added: “Our plans for Welborne have always included safeguarding an area of land for a potential rail link.

"This feasibility study is an encouraging next step that keeps an exciting transport option open for future residents and businesses.

"Our vision for Welborne is to create a sustainable community with exceptional facilities and it would be great to think that we might have a rail station too."

Bryan Jezeph, of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Planning and Transport Committee, said: “Welborne should have the objective of minimizing the use of the car and a new station would provide effective links.”

Network Rail will now discuss with the developers of Welborne and the council as to the next steps.