Development principles
We have progressed a set of development principles that will guide us through these early stages of engagement and planning. We would like to know your thoughts on the below. Have we captured everything that should be considered? Let us know.
A connected sustainable development:
Winchester City Council has set a goal to be a carbon neutral city and district by 2030. Winchester’s Station Area sits at the heart of our objectives for low carbon travel and connectivity – and any redevelopment should be an exemplar for sustainable low-carbon development, living and working.
Proposals should champion sustainable transport to, from and around the city including improved station links to the city centre and other communities outside Winchester. Walking, cycling, public transport and other innovative environmentally friendly urban mobility methods should be encouraged. Proposals should align with the City of Winchester Movement Strategy, Parking and Access Strategy and Winchester Vision 2020-2030. All proposals will need to support safe, economic and efficient running of the public transport operation and enhance the customer experience within this transport interchange.
All development should actively encourage good practice in; promoting vibrant and diverse communities; creating healthy places for people and planet; supporting and developing the local economy (see Winchester Green Economic Development Strategy) and considering sustainability principles outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Development for Winchester’s future:
Work patterns and needs are changing – and the way people use city centres is changing. We need a development that understands these changes and enables Winchester to make the most of the future economic and residential opportunities that these present.
This will require any development proposals brought forward to be inclusive and aim to offer an appropriate site mix to reinforce and complement the town centre and the economic future of Winchester and consider incorporating different housing tenures to meet Winchester’s housing need including affordable homes and those whose needs are not met by the market. The Winchester Housing Development Strategy 2021-2030 states a target of building ‘1,000 new council built homes across the district between 2021 and 2030’. Any proposals should identify opportunities where the scheme can support affordable housing needs, government housing targets and where market research and Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) provide objective justification for this to be considered the appropriate mix.
Proposals should promote an inclusive environment which recognises and accommodates differences in the way people would likely use the development. It should facilitate dignified, equal and intuitive use by everyone. Any development should support public sector equality duties, uphold and have due regard to the principles outlined in the Equality Act 2010.
Development proposals should demonstrate consideration for how the scheme can promote public value principles identified in the Green Book 2020 (financial value; economic value; social value and environmental value), balancing these opportunities with site constraints to deliver a viable scheme.
High quality design, positive Placemaking:
Winchester is a special city with many high quality buildings, an attractive walkable centre and much used public spaces. Any development should promote high quality design principles by showing consideration for National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and relevant Local Plan and Development Plan and High Quality Places SPD 2015 policies including (but not limited to):
- Respecting Winchester town and surrounding landscape characteristics;
- Enhancing public realm ensuring attractive, safe, and accessible design;
- Improving pedestrian and cycling access within the area;
- Demonstrate a high standard of architectural design;
- Consider important locally significant views and
- aim to conserve, enhance and promote Winchester’s rich heritage and its essential character by showing consideration to the legacy of the city’s history, spaces, buildings and artefacts.
Co-creating with residents, businesses and stakeholders:
The Council believes that the most effective initiatives in Winchester are those that reflect close work alongside residents, businesses and other local stakeholders. We want to:
- Start the process not with buildings, masterplans and development proposals but with people.
- Adopt a proactive approach to listening and understanding local stakeholder views through local engagement and consultation.
- Agree a stakeholder engagement plan and clearly identify the objectives for each round of consultation.
This engagement should seek to understand public aspiration and balance opportunities against site constraints and feasibility. We will engage with residents early in the process and encourage stakeholder participation from the whole community in all stages in the development.