Six key themes
Character
The Railway Station is an existing landmark in the city – both as a transport hub and distinctive heritage building. The concept masterplan proposes that sites should be designed to be distinctive, drawing on the city’s key character as a guide and have a positive impact on the surrounding area. Creating places for people, use, and activity, helps to define a place, identity and character.

Uniquely defined spaces
Whilst Winchester’s city centre contains many historic buildings of note, the characteristics of Winchester are perhaps more uniquely defined by the arrangement of spaces and routes in the city’s blocks and streets.
Some of the most memorable spaces in Winchester are accessed via meandering routes that widen and enclose a connected series of spaces and views. Informal smaller spaces are discovered along route and become pleasant places to spend time in, or move through.
Winchester is a city set within the context of the south downs. It’s urban streets and squares are punctuated by impressive trees, while major routes are often lined with trees as green corridors.
The concept masterplan recognises these key features of Winchester and aims to embrace them to inform proposed development upon the Station Approach sites. It is the placement of building facades, footprints and new planting that can create this effect in new development.

Connected spaces in Winchester
The Square is probably the most well-known example of connected ‘discoverable’ spaces within the city. The buildings offer lively active frontages and enclosed external spaces to sit and enjoy.


Popular Winchester streetscapes at Buttercross and The Square

Walls and large trees in Winchester
These street views emphasise the importance of mature trees between buildings to emphasise the nature in the city’s streets. Walls made of high quality materials moderate between buildings, levels, landscape and trees as part of the distinctive townscape of Winchester.


Existing view of large trees between buildings

Development footprints
The footprint of a building can help to create identity, character and places for people to spend time.
The plan sketches below show option studies, focusing on building footprint, and the connectivity and value of the spaces between the buildings.
Street frontage


Urban blocks


Buildings, height, scale and massing
Carfax site
The massing and heights of development on the Carfax site should respect the existing heritage buildings with reduced scale around the Registry and listed Record Office. The new development scale could increase towards the highest point of the site at the top of Station Road, where a taller office building (5+ storeys) could provide a distinctive landmark.
Cattlemarket site
Buildings along Andover Road should suit the changing character from sub-urban Harestock/ Weeke to the urban city centre. Development along Worthy Lane should respect the established conservation area of Hyde, and use a residential scale to ‘complete’ the historic street. An opportunity for a landmark building at the southern corner of Cattlemarket could create punctuation in the development, and help with way finding and giving a distinct personality to the area.
Preserving key views
The concept masterplan proposes to preserve key views to the station and enhance them with improvements to the surrounding public space, creating a more identifiable place for people to spend time. New development in terms of scale and mass should consider the adjoining conservation area, whilst also providing a focal point and landmark for the city.
Heritage and key contextual views
Key
- Listed buildings
- Historic buildings
- Conservation area boundary
- Modern larger footprint buildings
- Key local views
Also Wider Townscape Views:
- Bushfield Camp
- Whiteshute Ridge
- St Catherine’s Hill
- Morestead Road
- Magdalen Down
- Blue Boar Hill
- Oram’s Arbour
- Milverton Road / Green Hill Rd
Buildings of historical significance
Station building

This building has a distinctive frontage adding character and identity to the Station Hill approach. It is not proposed to expand the station building itself, but improvements to access and surrounding public space will improve its setting.
St. Paul’s Church

This grade II listed building enjoys an elevated setting which offers a partial view across the Carfax site. Any development should be aware of views from (and to) this location, however, the viewpoint is limited to the churchyard or carpark and will not compromise the church’s operation or values. Ground level views are limited by vegetation and landform, but where height is created by new development there is potential for creating new views onto the church itself.
Hampshire Records Office

A large and distinctive grade II listed building, with imposing presence on the Carfax site and station arrival routes. The buildings rear is glazed and open and looks out into gardens and a copse of trees, this aspect of the building is under appreciated and could be enhanced in a new development.
The Winchester Club

Although significant proportions of the original heritage building of Highfield Lodge survive, there have been various extensions and alterations and its formerly extensive garden is now dominated by the hard-surfaced public car park. Located outside the concept masterplan area, the building offers potential, and is in need of maintenance.
Former Country Registry Office

A familiar feature building greeting station users. The proposal would be to restore public access and use. There’s possibility of re-introducing food and drink in the form of a Cafe or Bar (historically a pub). The public space works to Station Hill would improve the setting and usage of the space outside.
View of Worthy Lane residential
Proposal:
The concept masterplan proposes new family home townhouse units and smaller scale terraced duplex flats opposite existing homes which would be set back from the road along Worthy Lane. They should complement the existing homes completing the feeling of a lived in street.

