Property
Published: June 13, 2024 | Updated: 13th June 2024
Local residents would like to see nature, biodiversity and new sports facilities prioritised in the regeneration of a site south of Winchester, a consultation has found.
Under a recently submitted outline planning application from the Church Commissioners for England, the 43-hectare site at Bushfield Camp would gain an innovation park featuring a mix of office, academic and employment space, creating hundreds of jobs.
The camp was used by the British Army during the Second World War, but has been closed since the 1970s.
Now, following months of consultation, the developers have collated over 900 survey responses which will influence future proposals.
Plans for the innovation park would see more than 60 acres designated for public use, with over three quarters of respondents saying Winchester needs more publicly accessible open spaces.
And almost 75 per cent of respondents said they’d like the area to be managed by a recognised specialist group or conservation body such as The Butterfly Conservation or as an educational resource for local schools and colleges.
John Weir, head of real estate for The Church Commissioners for England, said: “We’re grateful for the breadth and depth of survey responses, which will play a key role in developing our proposals for the future of Bushfield’s legacy land.
“As custodians for the local area, we’re committed to taking on board the feedback received.
“Enhancing the environment was one of the main topics raised in survey responses.
“As a result, we’ll ensure the land is protected and enhanced and we’re committed to safeguarding biodiversity.”
“Making sure that Bushfield is safe and fully legally accessible for everyone to enjoy is clearly a notable priority.”
The development team will now take forward the survey results and explore how they can help shape the future proposals and management of the site.
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