Transcript Document

Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Bushfield Camp
Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Site details
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Triangular site, approximately 63 hectares
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Surrounded by development on three
boundaries
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Approximately 20 hectares is brownfield
– former army camp
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Vehicle access via Badger Farm Road
(A3090)
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Good access to motorway network (M3)
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Close to the park and ride site under
construction
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
History of Bushfield Camp
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Former army camp, requisitioned
before WWII (approx. 20 hectares)
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In use by MOD until mid 1970s
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Returned to the Church
Commissioners in 1979
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Alternative uses first considered
in 1980s – initially considered
suitable for recreation/tourism
uses
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1980-1990s – a number of
proposals for development
overturned
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Site now derelict and unsightly

The site attracts antisocial and
criminal activities
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
The economic issues
Winchester District Economic and Employment Land Study, November 2007:
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The Winchester economy is strong but there is little room for
complacency and need to maintain a “competitive edge”
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Winchester is sliding down the hierarchy of business communities in the
South East
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There is a “disjuncture” between the existing restrictive Local Plan and
the “direction of travel” in the emerging South East Plan
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Employment projections indicate a restructuring of the local economy
with a growing focus on higher value added services, eg knowledge-based
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A shortage of modern employment sites; demand is restrained by
restrictive policies and limited supply of office space
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A particular demand for a science or technology park to cater for
knowledge-based and creative industries
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
The vision for the local and sub-regional economy
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South East Plan vision for South Hampshire – strong economic growth,
linked to urban regeneration
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Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) – promotes economic-led
growth improving productivity through better knowledge transfer
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Winchester Community Strategy – seeks to ensure Winchester maintains
its competitive edge and increase the contribution of creative industries
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WCC Corporate Strategy Implementation Plan (2007 to 2012)
– The Council will focus on providing the environment and facilities for
business start up and growth
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Winchester District’s Economic Action Plan – promote and build
competitiveness of Winchester Town, nurture creative industries,
and ensure that business needs are met
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Emerging policy framework
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LDF is being introduced in the context of the adopted South East Plan (2006 -2026)
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Local Plan to be replaced by a Local Development Framework (LDF)
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Core Strategy under preparation
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Core Strategy “preferred options” consultation published May 2009
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Core Strategy sets out the spatial development strategy over the next 20 years,
including identifying strategic development sites
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Adoption of Core Strategy programmed for early 2011
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
What are the issues?
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“Issues and Options” for the spatial strategy (consultation held early 2008)
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Nearly 3000 representations
Key issues were:
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Commuting – general concern that there is an excess of in-commuting, mainly from
Southampton and Eastleigh, for lower income jobs, largely in the public sector, and
excess of out-commuting of highly skilled residents
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Step change growth – is necessary to meet the South East Plan growth requirements,
but concern about the impact on the environment and heritage
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Economic potential – Winchester lacks a clear vision about what it can and wants to
offer to businesses; Winchester’s environment and property market are better suited
to knowledge-based activities
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
The options
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The Council initially identified two options for “Winchester Town” :
–
Option 1: Planned boundaries – restrict development within the existing
boundaries and site allocations
–
Option 2: Step change – actively seek to raise the profile of the town
through a step-change in growth, including a “knowledge park”
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An update to the Economic and Employment Land Study concluded that Option 2
(Step Change) is the preferred option for addressing commuting problems and
helping to realise the town’s potential
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WCC has now identified its “preferred option” as a combination of options 1 and 2
–
“Development with a purpose” – combines elements of both options,
including allocation of a new site for a knowledge-based business park
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Why a knowledge-based business park?
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Latent demand in the Winchester market area for modern office and
industrial workspace
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Particular demand for a knowledge-based business park for modern
knowledge-based and creative industries
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Likely to attract businesses looking for a high-quality environment
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Likely to attract highly-skilled local people who are seeking to live and work
in high quality surroundings, therefore address out-commuting problem
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A knowledge based business park would need to complement the Chilworth
Science Park and the park proposed at Eastleigh
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Despite the economic downturn, “there appears to be sound logic for
developing a knowledge-based business park in the Winchester town area”
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Is a key component of the “development with a purpose” spatial strategy
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Preferred option
Policy WT3:
Strategic Employment
Allocation Bushfield Camp
“Approximately 20 hectares
of land at Bushfield Camp
which has been previously
occupied…will be allocated as
a ‘knowledge park’, subject
to further studies of its
suitability and viability…the
remainder of the site (approx
23 hectares) is made available
and laid out for public use in
perpetuity”.
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Bushfield Camp – the opportunity
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“Bushfield Camp has good potential for the
development of a knowledge based business
park”, Winchester District Economic and
Employment Land Study (January 2009)
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Bushfield is a brownfield site and WCC has
confirmed there are no viable alternatives
within the town
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Should be a phased development, to provide
650 to 1000 jobs during the LDF plan period,
eventually rising to 1,500 jobs
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Further feasibility studies and development
impact studies are being undertaken
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Opportunity for a high-quality, innovative and
sustainable business park as the cornerstone
for Winchester’s long-term prosperity
Image title
Concept option
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Moving forward
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WCC will consider representations on the Preferred Option Core Strategy
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The LDF Core Strategy is expected to be adopted in early 2011
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Further studies are underway
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A development concept will evolve in partnership with WCC
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A planning application will be prepared and submitted
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Phased development of the site is planned to commence in 2012
Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchester’s future prosperity
Attributes of Successful R&D Clusters