PLANS for the Barton Farm development are beginning to take shape.

Community groups joined local businesses and city and county councillors at a recent workshop at the University of Winchester to discuss finer details.

Developer Cala Homes and master planners John Thompson & Partners hosted the two-day event, which will shape the detailed application set to be submitted in September.

The workshop split into smaller groups looking at specific topics such as infrastructure, sustainability, transport and economic issues.

Mike Emett, Cala land director, said: “The workshops were well attended and prompted some constructive and positive debate together with some great ideas which will help shape the detail of the scheme. The atmosphere was one of collaboration and open-mindedness in terms of what we could create here.”

A range of ideas came out of the event including setting up a community development trust and organising support for small businesses.

Among the groups present were Winchester Action on Climate Change, Winchester Area Community Action, the City of Winchester Trust, and St Barnabas Church.

Another consultation will be held at Winchester Guildhall on June 12 from noon until 7.30pm to give the wider community a say.

Mr Emett added: “We hope local people will attend our community consultation event in June so that we can get as much feedback as possible on the detail of the scheme before we submit our detailed application.”

For more details visit bartonfarmwinchester.co.uk or email bartonfarm@cala.co.uk.