Plans to transform disused army base could boost Winchester as hub for life sciences, media & health

A former army base south of Winchester City Centre could be transformed into a knowledge and innovation park, housing the headquarters of firms spanning the life science, media and health sectors.

Under a new planning application submitted by the Church Commissioners for England in partnership with Legal & General and Gisborne, the 43-hectare site at Bushfield Camp would blend office, academic and employment space and create hundreds of new jobs.

Community amenities would include retail space, a sports hub, hotel, and nursery, while there’s also a commitment to provide over 60 acres of ‘publicly accessible and biodiverse green space’.

In Hampshire, it’s estimated that around 53,000 people are employed in tech and digital businesses, with a gross value-add to the national economy of an impressive £5.8bn each year.

Though the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Oxford, Cambridge and London is now well established as home to UK life sciences, other areas with a history of innovation and high quality of life (like Winchester and surrounds) are also now thriving and attracting innovative firms.

Ben Rodgers, Head of Regeneration for Legal & General’s real assets division, explained: “Attention is deservedly given to the well-established spheres of life science, innovation and media in the UK.

“It’s important however to recognise the importance of supply chains and specialist subsectors that feed creative solutions into them, as they’re an essential part of the research and development process.

“We’ve worked alongside Winchester City Council to ensure Bushfield delivers both economically and environmentally, in support of the council’s declared nature and climate emergency policies.”

Joanna Loxton, Head of Strategic Land at the Church Commissioners for England, added: “Bushfield will provide critical employment led space which will serve Winchester and Hampshire’s growing business economy while adding to the diversity of Winchester’s employment offer.

“We expect this purpose-built space will not only reduce the need for people to migrate to other locations, but will actively pull into its orbit scale-ups and specialist businesses that have been considering alternative locations.”

Bushfield Camp was used by the army during the Second World War. It was closed in the 1970s.

The camp was first allocated by Winchester City Council as a site for employment-led development back in 2013.

• bushfieldcampregeneration.co.uk

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