Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchesters future prosperity

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Bushfield Camp Key to securing Winchesters
future prosperity
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Site details

• Triangular site, approximately 63 hectares
• Surrounded by development on three boundaries
• Approximately 20 hectares is brownfield former
  army camp
• Vehicle access via Badger Farm Road (A3090)
• Good access to motorway network (M3)
• Close to the park and ride site under construction

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History of Bushfield Camp

• Former army camp, requisitioned before WWII
  (approx. 20 hectares)
• In use by MOD until mid 1970s
• Returned to the Church Commissioners in 1979
• Alternative uses first considered in 1980s
  initially considered suitable for
  recreation/tourism uses
• 1980-1990s a number of proposals for
  development overturned
• Site now derelict and unsightly
• The site attracts antisocial and criminal
  activities

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The economic issues

• Winchester District Economic and Employment Land
  Study, November 2007
• The Winchester economy is strong but there is
  little room for complacency and need to maintain
  a competitive edge
• Winchester is sliding down the hierarchy of
  business communities in the South East
• There is a disjuncture between the existing
  restrictive Local Plan and the direction of
  travel in the emerging South East Plan
• Employment projections indicate a restructuring
  of the local economy with a growing focus on
  higher value added services, eg knowledge-based
• A shortage of modern employment sites demand is
  restrained by restrictive policies and limited
  supply of office space
• A particular demand for a science or technology
  park to cater for knowledge-based and creative
  industries

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The vision for the local and sub-regional economy

• South East Plan vision for South Hampshire
  strong economic growth, linked to urban
  regeneration
• Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH)
  promotes economic-led growth improving
  productivity through better knowledge transfer
• Winchester Community Strategy seeks to ensure
  Winchester maintains its competitive edge and
  increase the contribution of creative industries
• WCC Corporate Strategy Implementation Plan (2007
  to 2012) The Council will focus on providing
  the environment and facilities for business start
  up and growth
• Winchester Districts Economic Action Plan
  promote and build competitiveness of Winchester
  Town, nurture creative industries, and ensure
  that business needs are met

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Emerging policy framework

• LDF is being introduced in the context of the
  adopted South East Plan (2006 -2026)
• Local Plan to be replaced by a Local Development
  Framework (LDF)
• Core Strategy under preparation
• Core Strategy preferred options consultation
  published May 2009
• Core Strategy sets out the spatial development
  strategy over the next 20 years, including
  identifying strategic development sites
• Adoption of Core Strategy programmed for early
  2011

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What are the issues?

• Issues and Options for the spatial strategy
  (consultation held early 2008)
• Nearly 3000 representations
• Key issues were
• 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
• Step change growth is necessary to meet the
  South East Plan growth requirements, but concern
  about the impact on the environment and heritage
• Economic potential Winchester lacks a clear
  vision about what it can and wants to offer to
  businesses Winchesters environment and property
  market are better suited to knowledge-based
  activities

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The options

• 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
• 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 towns
  potential
• 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

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Why a knowledge-based business park?

• Latent demand in the Winchester market area for
  modern office and industrial workspace
• Particular demand for a knowledge-based business
  park for modern knowledge-based and creative
  industries
• Likely to attract businesses looking for a
  high-quality environment
• Likely to attract highly-skilled local people who
  are seeking to live and work in high quality
  surroundings, therefore address out-commuting
  problem
• A knowledge based business park would need to
  complement the Chilworth Science Park and the
  park proposed at Eastleigh
• Despite the economic downturn, there appears to
  be sound logic for developing a knowledge-based
  business park in the Winchester town area
• Is a key component of the development with a
  purpose spatial strategy

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Preferred option
Policy WT3 Strategic Employment Allocation
Bushfield Camp Approximately 20 hectares of
land at Bushfield Camp which has been previously
occupiedwill be allocated as a knowledge park,
subject to further studies of its suitability and
viabilitythe remainder of the site (approx 23
hectares) is made available and laid out for
public use in perpetuity.
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Bushfield Camp the opportunity

• Bushfield Camp has good potential for the
  development of a knowledge based business park,
  Winchester District Economic and Employment Land
  Study (January 2009)
• Bushfield is a brownfield site and WCC has
  confirmed there are no viable alternatives within
  the town
• Should be a phased development, to provide 650 to
  1000 jobs during the LDF plan period, eventually
  rising to 1,500 jobs
• Further feasibility studies and development
  impact studies are being undertaken
• Opportunity for a high-quality, innovative and
  sustainable business park as the cornerstone for
  Winchesters long-term prosperity

Concept option
Image title
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Moving forward

• WCC will consider representations on the
  Preferred Option Core Strategy
• The LDF Core Strategy is expected to be adopted
  in early 2011
• Further studies are underway
• A development concept will evolve in partnership
  with WCC
• A planning application will be prepared and
  submitted
• Phased development of the site is planned to
  commence in 2012

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Attributes of Successful RD Clusters