| Project type: | Regional City & Town Strategy |
| Client: | Winchester City Council |
| Stage: | Strategic Guidance |
The Central Winchester Regeneration area’s Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been formally adopted by Winchester City Council at its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 20 June 2018. This document sets out the vision, detailed objectives and a Planning & Urban Design Framework to guide the phased delivery of a vibrant new mixed-use hub in the heart of historic Winchester.
Creating a long-term framework for the historic heart of Winchester
Covering approximately four hectares in the heart of Winchester, JTP was appointed to develop a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Central Winchester regeneration. The desire was to develop a comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment for the area to bring real benefits to the local people and create a positive legacy for the city.
JTP worked closely with the community to create the SPD across a number of extensive collaborative planning processes to ensure the regeneration aligns with the spirit and aspirations of the community. The SPD sets out a public realm framework and layout of land uses that could be built to help ensure that the new quarter is fit for the future and will rejuvenate this important part of the historic city while respecting its heritage.
This strategy includes improving the overall look and feel of the public realm, including the Broadway; working with the Winchester School of Art to incorporate artwork on the site; refurbishing the Antiques Market to meet the needs of the anticipated new arts-based tenants; and creating opportunities for local businesses to use the vacant office and retail spaces until they are redeveloped. The vision will focus on a new pedestrian-friendly quarter, which is uniquely Winchester in its character of streets, spaces and buildings.
Project Delivery
– Over 1,500 local people and businesses helped to shape the vision through a series of public events organised by JTP in Winchester and the surrounding rural hinterland including roadshows, street surveys, and a Community Planning Weekend with workshops, walkabouts and hands-on planning groups.
– Proposals for a new mixed-use quarter, including retail, market, commercial, cultural, housing and community uses to complement the city centre and serve the whole community.
– Existing buildings will be imaginatively reused and set within an exceptional and vibrant public realm.
– Buildings, streets and places designed and laid out with a character and scale, described as ‘Winchesterness’.
– A range of active and restful spaces in the heart of the city, including the opening up of the brooks running in culverts across the site currently.
– A new bus hub and a strategy which routes buses away from The Broadway and high street to accommodate markets and other street-based activities.
The adoption of the SPD follows an extensive engagement process lasting 18 months from January 2017 to June 2018, in which JTP engaged over 1,500 members of the local community, businesses, stakeholders, students and visitors through a series of events which helped shape the proposals. These events included a Community Planning Weekend, regular meetings, workshops, exhibitions and roadshows.
The Planning & Urban Design Framework within the SPD outlines the possible uses as well as an urban design and public realm strategy across the 4.5 ha site. The mixed-use quarter will include retail, commercial, cultural, housing and community uses, to complement the city centre and serve the whole community. The buildings, streets and places will be designed and laid out with a Winchester character and scale – described as “Winchesterness” – and will include a range of active and restful spaces in the heart of the city.
The proposals also include the opening up of the brook to the east of the site and a new bus hub. Bus routing away from The Broadway and High Street will allow for environmental improvements to accommodate markets and other street based activities.
Winchester City Council will now go on to work with a variety of stakeholders to bring the vision for Winchester forward in phases. Alongside that, they will also ensure that a wide range of short and medium term opportunities are taken for the area continues to thrive.
This strategy includes improving the overall look and feel of the public realm, including the Broadway; working with Winchester School of Art to incorporate artwork on the site; refurbishing the Antiques Market to meet the needs of the anticipated new arts-based tenant, and creating opportunities for local businesses to use the vacant office and retail spaces until they are redeveloped.
You can view the adopted SPD here.
| Project type: | Regional City & Town Strategy |
| Client: | Winchester City Council |
| Stage: | Strategic Guidance |
