We had a celebration to mark our purchase of Maritime House at 3:30pm on 21 Mar 2026. Luke Murphy, our local MP, and the mayor, came along to make a plaque and hand out certificates to our bond holders.
This was open to all. Drinks and some nibbles were provided. Here is the report from the Gazette:
A not-for-profit community workshop celebrated after securing its permanent home through a public fundraising effort.
Basingstoke Makerspace, based at Maritime House since 2017, was under threat of being sold for development in 2024.
Determined to save the workshop, members and supporters launched a fundraising campaign to purchase the property, ultimately raising the funds needed to buy it.
Steve Hawtin, chairman of Basingstoke Makerspace, said: “Buying our building secures our future. We had been searching for alternate accommodation since 2024 and could not find anywhere suitable.
The group celebrates the building purchase (Image: Kevin Roche)
“If the building had been sold for development we would have had to close our doors. Now we will be able to continue providing the tools and training to deliver STEM experience to the local community.”
A bond scheme was created by the directors of the Makerspace, open to members and other local investors, which enabled the purchase of Maritime House, with the official handover taking place on February 20, 2026.
Luke Murphy MP and Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Colin Phillimore, joined members of the workshop for a celebration of the building’s purchase on March 21.
Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Colin Phillimore awards a certificate to Chairman Steve Hawtin (Image: Kevin Roche)
Mr Murphy said: “The Makerspace is one of the facilities that makes Basingstoke a great place to live and work. I am glad that they managed to raise the funds and buy Maritime House. It’s a phenomenal achievement.”
Using a Makerspace laser cutter, Mr Murphy made a celebratory plaque and handed out Bond Certificates to the contributors.
Gary Fletcher, one of the bondholders who invested in the scheme, said: “I’m not a member of the Makerspace, but I felt its continued existence was important enough for me to contribute.”
Luke Murphy MP with his celebratory plaque (Image: Kevin Roche)
Basingstoke Makerspace operates as a membership-based community workshop, granting members around-the-clock access to a wide array of tools and equipment for £25 per month.
The facility houses laser cutters, 3D printers, woodworking and metalworking tools, a CNC machine, an industrial sewing machine, a photographic studio, and a ventilated spray booth.
Basingstoke Makerspace also runs free open evenings every Tuesday from 7pm.
More information, including details on membership and events, can be found at https://basingstokemakerspace.org.uk.