The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will use the money to further develop the employment quarter, creating infrastructure to support new serviced plots for business use.

These new plots, alongside the Business and Enterprise Centre being developed at the old sergeants’ mess, will contribute to an estimated 500 new jobs at Louisburg.

This comes just weeks after Whitehill & Bordon was announced as part of a multi-site Enterprise Zone status, which has the potential to support up to 200 new businesses and more than 10,000 jobs across three sites in the ‘Sci-Tech Corridor’.

Serviced plots are parcels of land that are prepared in advance, ready for development. This speeds up the ability to get business premises built, helping create new jobs more quickly for the local community.

The HCA will organise gas, electricity and water, as well as road access and parking for each site, and ensure they are connected to the town’s new relief road, construction of which is well underway at Louisburg.

As the Government’s land, housing and regeneration agency, the HCA will invest more than £20 million in Louisburg and Quebec Barracks, to make sure that disused public sector land is transformed to create homes and jobs as quickly as possible.

Kevin Bourner, Head of Area at the Homes and Communities Agency, said:

"This additional £3.5million will give a massive boost to the Louisburg site. Alongside the 500 homes we’re building at the former barracks with Barratt David Wilson Homes, we are committed to creating new jobs for the local community."

"And with the Enterprise Zone having been announced, I’m confident that Whitehill & Bordon can attract new businesses to the area."

Cllr Ferris Cowper, Leader of East Hampshire District Council, said:

“East Hampshire District Council is aiming to be one of the most business-friendly councils in the UK and this funding enables us to boost what we’re offering to them.

“These new plots are being specifically developed for businesses – so they will get exactly what they need in a great location.

Businesses will also benefit from the Enterprise Zone with a 100% business rate discount for five years, making Whitehill & Bordon a really attractive place to set up shop.

“This funding also shows that central government is 100% committed to the successful transformation of Whitehill & Bordon with new homes, 5,500 new jobs, new facilities and new opportunities.”

The new service plots will be available to developers in 2018.