DEVELOPERS have promised to provide 60 acres of green space to the public within their plans to redesign a former army base in Winchester.
An online survey has been launched to allow residents to have their say on proposed green space at Bushfield Camp.
Following consultation with residents, stakeholders and the wider population, the Church Commissioners for England, in partnership with Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) and Gisborne, have committed as part of the current planning application to protect and provide approximately 60 acres of Bushfield Camp as publicly accessible green space.
READ MORE: Bushfield Camp: Plan submitted to Winchester City Council
Through the new online survey, the developers are hoping to understand how they can work with the community to maximise the future potential of Bushfield’s green space.
The survey asks residents what they would like to see incorporated as part of the land, to help the developers decide how to manage the land moving forward.
John Weir, head of real estate for the Church Commissioners for England, said: “The launch of the online survey is testament to our commitment to place community at the heart of the vision for Bushfield.
“Across more than half a dozen public consultation events, city-centre stands and online feedback, we’ve gathered a diverse range of ideas from the public for this significant piece of land. We want to gather even more local insight to support our commitment to the long-term stewardship of our estates, in order to achieve greener growth.
“At Bushfield, this means implementing sympathetic development and delivering best-practice management of the natural surroundings. Done well, it’s an approach which will deliver a wealth of benefits, enabling communities to thrive for generations to come.”
Ben Rodgers, head of regeneration for LGIM Real Assets division, said: “Engaging with the community via this survey, we hope to fully realise Bushfield’s potential as a best-in-class employment-led campus.
“By providing legal access to the green space, we want to not only maximise Bushfield’s social and economic impact, but also the environmental opportunity.
“We look forward to working with the local and broader communities to understand the long-term legacy that they want to see delivered for the open space in this new quarter for the city.”
SEE ALSO: Bushfield Camp: Early opinion split over major development
Serving as a military training ground until 1979, Bushfield Camp was left unused for more than four decades. In 2013, it was allocated in the Winchester City Local Plan as an employment-led site for regeneration.
The developers have come under fire by residents expressing concerns over biodiversity, traffic, the height of buildings and the loss of walking areas.
If approved, the outline planning application submitted in October, will see the Bushfield Camp development deliver an innovation park to the south of the city centre, attracting major employers to Winchester looking for new headquarters, across life science, academia, media and health sectors.
The scheme includes a business park, 'academic accommodation', a hotel, retail, parking, sport and community hub, landscaping and public realm works. More than half would be retained as open space. For more information go to bushfieldcampregeneration.co.uk/.
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