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Concept masterplan

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.

Credit: stock.adobe.com, Winchester High Street

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

Plan of spaces and routes between buildings

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

Plan showing large trees between buildings forming a typical street

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

Simple blocks with linear routes with limited active frontages.
Fragmented blocks face the street, creating courtyards for amenity as well as route through. Connected greener spaces allowing natural movement and exploration.

Urban blocks

Simple blocks with linear streets and limited active frontages. This arrangement is uncommon in Winchester and does not reflect the grain of the city.
Fragmented blocks with streets and courtyards increasing the external facades to allow entrances and windows. Courtyards and large spaces are connected via narrow streets & routes.

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.

Carfax site building heights
Carfax site building heights

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.

Cattlemarket site building heights
Cattlemarket site building heights

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

Diagram highlighting aspects of site proposals informed by heritage and contextual sensitivities
Show keyHide key
  • Listed buildings
  • Historic buildings
  • Conservation area boundary
  • Modern larger footprint buildings
  • Key local views
Diagram highlighting aspects of site proposals informed by heritage and contextual sensitivities

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

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.

Possible interpretation of the view of Worthy Lane
Existing photograph of Worthy Lane
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