A “CONCEPT masterplan” for a long-running development project near the station has been presented to Winchester City Council's cabinet.

Architecture studio Design Engine’s plans for the transformation of Station Approach were shown to councillors at a cabinet committee meeting complete with computer-generated images and a mission statement.

Speaking at the meeting, Design Engine representative Oliver Moody described Station Approach in its current form as “somewhat one-dimensional”, laying out his company’s plans to turn the area into a lively, biodiverse hub with cafes, shops and a “shift in emphasis” towards a pedestrian-friendly space.

READ MORE: Station Approach: New consultation launched on plans

Some of the parking around the station would be removed under Design Engine's plans (Image: Design Engine) Mr Moody also reiterated John Keats’s description of Winchester in a letter to the poet's sister Fanny in 1819: “The whole town is beautifully wooded – from the hill at the eastern extremity you see a prospect of streets, and old buildings mixed up with trees.” Design Engine says these words embody its approach towards their plans for Station Approach.

He also stressed that a concept masterplan is not a detailed plan of the project – that stage of the process is further down the line. In fact, the masterplan could be in use for 10 years, giving an idea of the project's timescale.

This presentation is part of the project’s current phase of community and stakeholder engagement with the project plans, which ends in around two weeks' time.

Responding to a question from Councillor Jackie Porter whether Design Engine taken Stockbridge Road into consideration in its plans, Mr Moody said: “The red line of the concept masterplan is limited and doesn’t include the Hampshire County Council highways areas. […] Without having those areas of highway all we can do is be cognizant of what plans Hampshire County Council might have for them in the future.”

By Spring next year, Design Engine hopes to have submitted the concept masterplan to the council cabinet, and aims to receive a decision in 2026.

Previous attempts to transform the area around the station into a more welcoming place have not met with success.

In 2016, architects and councillors pointed to a catalogue of errors behind WCC’s “fatally flawed” attempt to find a company to make plans for a new Station Approach, which ended with a veto of architecture studio Hopkins’ frontrunning scheme.

SEE ALSO: Station Approach plans explained by Design Engine chiefs

In 2020, new £150m plans were again mothballed, with an appeal against the project even having reached the High Court the previous year.

Design Engine is an architectural stalwart in Winchester, having designed the University of Winchester’s West Downs campus and Winchester College’s southern campus, as well as dozens of buildings in the UK and abroad.

The studio is holding a drop-in event at its offices to present its concept masterplan this Saturday, October 19, from 10am until 1pm, to which members of the public are invited.