Central Winchester Regeneration future outlined in new roadmap
The progress that the Central Winchester Regeneration project will make over the next four years has been outlined at a meeting of the committee responsible for delivering the vision for the area.
Members of the Cabinet (Central Winchester Regeneration) Committee met yesterday (22 January) and saw the new Delivery Roadmap.
The roadmap, which will evolve and change as the project progresses, gives an overview of the potential timescale for the key stages of the project including the design, planning and procurement of the development. It also includes investor marketing, funding sources and the overall delivery strategy along with detail around key workstreams such as a new museum, the move of the bus station and ongoing improvements to the area ahead of the final new development.
The roadmap also shows how the construction phase could begin by the end of 2021.
During the meeting the Committee gave its approval for:
- A design brief and budget for initial design work for improvements to the Broadway and lower section of the High Street.
- Experts to be appointed to undertake a business case feasibility study for a potential pop up hub on the un-used space behind the bus station.
- Additional archaeology work to be identified and costed, including considering the value of water table monitoring across the site and undertaking ground penetrating radar surveys, both of which attendees to the archaeology events, held in December, felt were needed.
Cllr Caroline Horrill, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Committee, said:
“We are delighted to present the Delivery Roadmap, which sets out how we will make everyone’s vision a reality. We are determined to get it right from the start to ensure we deliver a scheme that is viable and sustainable.”
“We are also pleased to make these approvals for the project allowing important steps to be made in key areas of the regeneration project such as the Broadway and lower section of the High Street. These are vital and much-loved locations for the city of Winchester and are integral in our desire to make this area a vibrant place for residents, businesses and visitors.
“2018 was an exciting year for the project with many milestones reached. But there is still work to be done and we are looking forward to making even more progress during 2019 and beyond.”
Councillors also heard an update on the plans to refurbish Coitbury House into offices and plans to give the public an opportunity to give feedback on the potential name for the area. The list of potential names that were suggested by members of the public during the consultation will be circulated on the Council’s social media channels and website for people to comment on and add to. More details about this opportunity will be announced in the next few weeks.