MORE than 200 people queued in the rain to take a first glimpse at the new homes being built in a £4.6million scheme in the heart of Basingstoke.

Not content with just viewing the Bargate Homes development at Chailey Court in Winchester Road, people rushed to reserve them with all 23 of the apartments bought off plan.

The former office block was once the head office of Kingfisher Housing Association, now part of Sovereign Housing Association.

It is the first time that Bargate Homes has built in Basingstoke and the Hampshire-based business was overwhelmed by the huge response.

Bargate sales and marketing director Robert Lambie said: “We’ve worked across the south for almost ten years, but have never found the right opportunity in Basingstoke.

“We knew the redevelopment of Chailey Court would work well, but did not expect anything like this response.

“We had more than 200 people through the doors after queuing in the rain.

“Then they just couldn’t reserve the apartments fast enough – we’ve even got reserve lists for the reserved homes.”

Work is well under way at Chailey Court with the first one and two-bed apartments expected to be ready within the next few months.