Information update from The City of Trust September 2020

Image from the White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ © Crown copyright 2020, re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence version 3.0 Chairman’s Jottings

One of the problems we have with the Trust is an historic City that has evolved over the lack of representatives on the council of hundreds of years with buildings, roads, younger age groups. We therefore often get and spaces reflecting this history. It is also accused of wishing to preserve Winchester generally recognised that the City has to in aspic and not accepting that it has to continue evolving by adding our story to the evolve with new, fresh ideas, new buildings, mix, but at the same time always honouring and ways of improving the city’s economic the past which is the city’s primary asset. success. It seems to be considered that this On behalf of all members of the Trust and attitude towards preservation is represented particularly the Council I would like to thank by the older members of Winchester society Mary Tiles for all the work she has done for and is not necessarily representing the us. Mary has been the overall chair of P.A.G. younger age groups attitude as to how for a number of years and has informed us Winchester should evolve. that she is moving to another area of the I personally do not believe that it is correct country. This is a great loss to us for Mary to think that the majority of retirement age has undertaken this job with enthusiasm people consider that the preservation of and expertise. Not only that, but she has Winchester’s historic background has to kept us, the Trust Council, well informed be kept at all costs and therefore refuse to with the latest twists and turns of planning accept progress. Equally, it is an incorrect legislation that are likely to affect the City. assumption to consider that younger age So, thank you Mary, for all that you have groups wish to see progress regardless of done for the City of Winchester Trust and consideration towards place and context. In we all wish you the very best for the next fact, my experience of dealing with young episode of your life. generations is that in many ways they are more radical in their thinking towards how We have just been informed that Christmas development and movement is concerned, Cards this year may be sold via a company than the older generations. Nevertheless, I that is likely to charge 30% on the card have even been surprised by how aligned sales. Together with the printing costs, this ideas are across all generations concerning would wipe out most of the profit. We are Winchester and the way in which the City currently debating whether to handle this ‘in should evolve. house’. We will be informing everyone of a I think that it is generally recognised that decision before we go or if we go to print! there is a responsibility towards respecting Keith Leaman

Heritage Open Days ’s largest festival of history and a mix of in-person and digital events. culture will return on 11–20 September, Communities will be able to celebrate and this year for the first time, the Heritage the stories of the places and spaces that Open Days (HODs) programme will be are important to them while staying safe

2 Letter from the Trust’s Chairman to Steve Brine, MP

I am writing to voice the Trust’s concerns over and the development control sections the Government’s White Paper on planning. follow questionable development rules We are very concerned at the direction unquestioningly. No doubt Winchester’s the Government is taking in its proposed planning problems are repeated up and overhauling of the planning system, which down the UK. It is extremely unlikely that we believe will in effect emasculate part of central government will provide a better the local planning procedures. system – in fact their proposed system is We think most people would agree that the more likely to deliver development that is planning system is by no means perfect, in inappropriate and poor in execution. which case it should be strengthened, not To simply remove planning requirements weakened. and provide a free fall environment in order As far as Winchester is concerned, the to try and achieve speed and cost saving, planning department has, over many years is a route to potential disaster, which any now, been under-resourced, with the government will not want on their CV. To result that indifferent decisions have been carefully reconstruct the planning system taken against a background of virtually in order to enhance and deliver a system non-existent strategic thinking. To develop that works, and provides the right type coherently, Winchester needs some first- of development, is surely a goal for any class strategic thinking, backed up by government to leave as a legacy that they sound design principles, fully understood can be proud of. by development control officers, who We would very much appreciate meeting understand the economic, environmental with you to discuss our concerns in more and quality expectation. It does not detail. seem that many local authorities have the inbuilt ability to provide imaginative Kind regards, expertise and leadership; their strategic Keith Leaman planning departments have been stripped 12 August 2020

and adhering to current social distancing Trust member John Pilkington. Entitled measures. Digital events will include pre- The City of Winchester Trust: sixty years of recorded walks and talks, live streaming influencing the heritage and character of of lectures and performances. and Winchester, the ten-minute film will show specially commissioned films and audio. how Winchester has developed over the Winchester Heritage Open Days events last sixty years, some of the important listing and box office are on the web site changes in the city’s life and appearance www.winchesterheritageopendays.org since the 1950s, and the Trust’s role in The Trust’s contribution to this year’s working to safeguard the unique character HODs is a specially commissioned video of the city. The film will be available on our narrated by well-known travel writer and website: www.cityofwinchestertrust.co.uk

3 Planning Appraisal Group

Our Review Panels have continued to work COVID situation, with conversions of office online, although this is not sustainable in to residential. Assuming these reforms go the long term. They need to get back to ahead attention will now be focussed on being able to meet at the Heritage Centre the local plan and PAG will be out of a job. (appropriately distanced of course). The CWT will need to find new ways of working number of cases has not dropped off to prevent poor development taking place. precipitously although we have been dealing This may however the last report you get from with many more minor things such as me, since I am hoping to move to extensions and loft conversions rather than at the end of August. Tessa Robertson, CWT large projects. secretary has kindly agreed to step into the There still seem to be cases being held up breach while we see what actually emerges by the nitrate issue. We have also seen from the Government. But whatever it is, some really ugly loft conversions which are there are likely to be implications for Trust going through under permitted development activities. (meaning that the council has no say once Mary Tiles it is deemed to be legal). Even where the council has a say, it seems not to be abiding by its own High Quality Places SPD and we Members and Public Comments The Trust have complained about this. welcomes informative comments from local people, but must avoid being influenced All of which may soon be irrelevant if what is by vested interests or personal matters. said about central government’s overhaul of Individuals who believe their interests are the planning system goes ahead. At least in being threatened by proposed schemes are advised to contact their Ward Councillors, Winchester we know from the experience of who have more influence over such matters. the very slow build-out of Barton Farm that If you would like to see details of Trust developers can be responsible for delays objections to planning applications and their in the provision of homes and there have fate, please go to the monthly PAG reports on our website. already been problems, highlighted by the

Trust Visits The visits planned for this year came quickly Visits being explored for next year, which to a halt, with only one taking place before would not need a coach: lock-down. This is the current situation: Dockyard – the boat sheds. Barnsley Workshop at Steep: the visit Victorian fortifications around had to be postponed and we will try to Portsmouth. revive it in October (it was fully booked). Sandham Memorial Chapel and Painted churches in and Dorchester Abbey Sussex: postponed for the time being because it involves coach travel (also fully Iain Patton booked).

4 WCC Local Plan Review 2023 to 2038

The publication at the beginning of August our members as possible get involved. The of the government’s planning white Trust will endeavour to keep our members paper should increase public interest and informed through email alerts. involvement in the review of local plan for How does the government’s white paper the district over which the City Council affect the local plan review? It is too early has jurisdiction. The review process is to know, particularly as any changes are about to speed up with the anticipated unlikely to become law before the middle launch in September of the Issues and of 2021, but I think it is likely to have Options stage of the review with the City some effect from early next year and if the Council publishing what it believes are the changes proposed in the white paper are issues that should be covered in the plan adopted, it means the allocation of land and setting out 4 strategic options for the for any type of development will reduce or allocation of all forms of development over remove local influence on many features the years up to 2038. This stage precedes of development that we have been familiar the publication of a draft of the plan itself with over the years. which is scheduled for the early months of John Beveridge 2021. Update: It has now been confirmed that the Everyone, both individuals and local Local Plan process will be delayed. This is community groups, is given the chance because a second White Paper proposes and indeed encouraged to engage with the a change to the method councils use to proposals this autumn and commenting on calculate the number of new homes they them with a view to influencing what is in the require. For Winchester, this would mean an plan. The coronavirus pandemic is going increase of 6,000 new homes, far more than to constrain the way public engagement the council had been planning. (Ed.) happens and it is likely more will take place online and there will be fewer, if any, George Michael Morris ARIBA conventional meetings. We are sad to report the death of Michael The Trust’s local plan group has been Morris on 10th August, aged 85. He was monitoring the review and saw the outline a member of the Trust Council 1976–93, of the 4 strategic development options and remained a Trust member for the rest to be published in the autumn. It is clear of his life. Until his retirement he was the that one of these will be for a shift towards historic buildings architect for HCC and, Winchester of the development required in among other things, a member of the the District by central government, away Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee, and we benefited greatly from his from the south of the District in the expertise and gifted draughtsmanship, area; another will be for a new settlement, not least, the Trust logo. We plan to so the ancient Town idea will publish some of the drawings he made arise again. There will be many factors to for us and a longer tribute in a later be taken into account before any option is edition. chosen but it is important that as many of

5 The Planning White Paper

In my experience the planning process were always taken into consideration. Sadly, has never been entirely satisfactory, but in since then there has been a downward slide Winchester it was at its best following local with government cuts gradually reducing the government reorganisation in 1974. Before Council’s ability to employ sufficient staff, then the City Council was just that, the small and critically downgrading the influence of city area alone with negligible planning skill design and planning in the City’s affairs, until available in a department where the building the last Chief Executive was able to answer inspector had originally been the mayor’s our question about who was responsible chauffeur. But reorganisation enlarged the for design amongst his officers, by saying area for which the Council was responsible that surely design was the developers’ to include a very large district, much as it responsibility! And now the government, in is now. a new white paper, is proposing a wholesale revision of the nation’s planning system with A multi-skilled planning department was over-simple reasoning that could very easily then recruited and headed by a highly make matters far worse. qualified architect-planner who had been the deputy chief at the County Council A member of the Trust wrote the following article in 2016, which was true then and and, amongst others, he brought with him remains true today and, to quote our the City’s first Conservation Officer, another chairman, may very well turn out to be just experienced architect-planner. As a director as true in 20 years’ time. he attended cabinet meetings and thereby ensured that good planning and design Michael Carden

Winchester and the Civic Voice Sandys Lecture by Sir Terry Farrell, 31st March 2016 A plea for Visionary Planning

Terry Farrell, an architect described by • The establishment of Conservation some as the Philosopher of Bricks & Areas in the 60s Mortar, gave the annual Sandys lecture at Portcullis House, Westminster, on 31st • He also formed The Civic Trust (now March. He started with a tribute to Lord replaced by Civic Voice) (Duncan) Sandys who was a visionary figure of the post-war years whose achievements When Ed Vaizey was for a brief time included: Minister for Architecture in the last coalition government, he appointed Sir Terry to • The creation of Green Belts in 1955 prepare The Farrell Review; a reflection • The Clean Air Act of 1956, which on the strengths and weaknesses of the transformed the quality of life in our planning system. Some two years on, Sir cities Terry revisited his conclusions in this lecture.

6 He regretted that central government want and the Council has to consider it; undervalued the Built Environment, as, developers with deep pockets can argue rather than being an important Ministry and appeal, persisting until they win consent in its own right, its function is fragmented almost regardless of the local planning into numerous different departments, so policies. The Shard in Southwark and the becomes a potential source of conflict Piano Tower in Paddington were cited as between the Treasury, Culture Media and examples of developer’s proposals that Sport, Housing and Transport. Even Ed were made with no regard for what the Vaizey’s status as Minister for Architecture community really needed. The Shard was only lasted a few days, before the post never in any local plan, but happens to have was lost in the oblivion of re-organisation. worked out fairly well; whereas Terry pointed Not since the days of Duncan Sandys or out that the Piano Tower would be alien to Michael Heseltine has the status of the Built the conservation area of the Paddington Environment been given any real priority basin, and the same accommodation could within the corridors of power. The same has be constructed in blocks of no more than occurred in local councils with the closure of 8 stories within the same site area to blend their architects departments and the demise with the surrounding properties rather than of a design team or leader in the planning “shard style” high rise proportions which office. dominate the skyline.

Similarly it is almost invisible within our So if local authorities could be persuaded to education system, but Sir Terry believes prepare their own master plans* to include the Built Environment should be taught well considered solutions to Planning; in all schools across all subjects such as Landscape, Architecture, Conservation Geography, Art, Science, History, and and Traffic Engineering it would become a Economics, so that the next generation pro-active tool. Sir Terry also hoped that a grow up with a greater awareness of priority would be given to Pedestrian and Planning, Architecture, Landscape Design, Landscape issues with cars relegated to the Transport and Sustainability. lowest importance; so the quality of spaces and quality of life becomes much improved. Terry Farrell argued that municipal planning has been re-active and only rarely pro- If we were to apply these principles to active as most cities do not have a master Winchester, then major developments plan* or conceptual framework*. (David like Silver Hill, Station Approach or Bar Mackay’s visionary blueprints for End Leisure Centres could and should and Barcelona being well known exceptions comfortably blend with the existing – my words not his). The Thames Gateway infrastructure, and much of the recent has been the largest urban regeneration controversy might evaporate.. project in Europe, but it has had no master plan*. But master plans* must be flexible and open to review as the needs of the community So any building owner or developer may change. Some very bad examples from submit their application for whatever they the brave new world of the 1950’s & 60’s

7 were quoted as a warning: the urban The challenge for the Trust is how motorways that cut through Newcastle city to persuade WCC to adopt such an centre; the original Bullring redevelopment enlightened strategy in a time when Council in , or indeed the demolition of resources are so strapped, and there is no our 3 medieval Brooks streets in Winchester suitably skilled officer responsible for design are examples of the abuse of municipal or Design Champion operating at a senior power; which could be described as public enough level to influence Cabinet. vandalism.. Chris Higgins Without a change in culture as suggested by Sir Terry sadly the wrong solutions will * There is often confusion in the use of these continue to be built on the wrong sites. For terms so, for the sake of clarity, current example, with a well considered master definitions may be briefly summarised as plan*, would the extra care unit have been follows: built on the Chesil Street surface car park Master plan – specific proposals for where the frail elderly residents can’t easily a development area generally (but not access the town centre? Almost certainly essentially) in single ownership and probably not! It is only located there because the site by a single developer. was available at the time funding became possible; not because it was a sensible Design framework – principles and place to house vulnerable elderly folk with policies for the regeneration of an area likely limited mobility. I suspect a conceptual to be in multiple ownership, not all of which framework* would have suggested the right may be developed at one time or at all. place to locate the extra care unit would be on the upper floors of the Silver Hill Urban design framework – within a town. development with good lift access into the Conceptual framework – a looser term pedestrian High Street. (possibly including open landscape) implying greater flexibility. (Ed.)

Planning White Paper: comment

from Sue Turner BA BArch MSc MRTPI, veteran architect and planning inspector, member of the Trust Council: 1 The proposals reduce the opportunity for community participation from two chances (local plan preparation and planning application) to a single opportunity when the new style local plan is prepared. 2 How can ‘beautiful’ realistically be defined? This sounds like a cash cow for lawyers and a recipe for more red tape and delay, not less.

8 Civic Voice “In Conversation” dialogues – a personal appraisal

In May, Civic Voice began a series of “In my mind, proves quite confounding, being Conversation” dialogues through Zoom and legally technical, when considering larger Webinar to explore current topics including scale developments. He felt, however, Planning, Building, Heritage, Conservation Planning should be seen as positive to and Regeneration, and more, to keep alive bring the community together for beneficial important national issues that could no longer purposes but it was argued this seemed be pursued normally due to constraints from to depend upon how local voices might be COVID-19. These were excellently conducted heard against those of the developers who by Kevin Trickett of Wakefield Civic Society, had contrary objectives. He stressed the and Ian Harvey and Sarah James of Civic importance of Councils keeping the local Voice. planning policy framework (LPPF) up-to-date I followed over 16 of these, together with and Neighbourhood Plans should be part another half dozen or so debates entitled of any development plan, and he agreed High Street Task Force, under the direction that permitted development rights (PDRs) of Simon Quinn, which specifically examined needed review especially for utilities within the plight of benighted commercial and retail conservation areas. When quizzed about centres within our towns and cities. As I bad planning decisions this was countered cannot give an account of all, or as fully as by statistics: 450,000 decisions p.a. with less I should like, I do urge Members to view the than 2% contrary to local views! Planning videos on the CV website, which are still is not just aesthetics but to anticipate available, to help form their own opinions. and meet future needs, and sometimes Nicholas Boys Smith of Create Streets, and local restrictions prevent necessary member of the Build Better, Build Beautiful developments. It was acknowledged more Commission gave a spirited and emotive communication for disseminating information plea for the importance of their 3 aims to be on planning proposals that lead to discourse embedded in planning the culture of future and participation could be implemented development, especially in this post-COVID through media technology - as is now seen climate: Ask for Beauty; Refuse Ugliness; as a result of attempting to overcome COVID Promote Stewardship; and these can be constraints. Ending on a positive note, he seen to be fully considered with their 8 reiterated that Planning is something to bring priorities stated within their last Report Living the community together and to think about with Beauty. This report, which I appreciate the good that comes from planning through can be controversial, is nonetheless a sound its benefits (the controversial “Planning working document for our towns and cities Reform” White Paper published subsequently to ensure civic pride and purpose, and on the 6th August, suggests we may have to communal well-being - all too often forgotten revise this note of optimism). or ignored. “Why we need a Healthy Home Act in the The former Chief Planner of Ministry light of COVID-19?” was the question raised of Housing, Communities and Local by Mary Parsons, Chair of the TCPA and Government, Steve Quartermain, explained also a member of the BBBB Commission, to something of the complexities and intricacies draw attention to the erosion of the legacy of the existing planning process which, to of the Garden City principle that the built

9 environment ensures healthy living. De- universally across the UK, and he was also regulation can now permit unsuitable dwelling keen that young people become engaged provision, e.g. PDR deems 12.8m3 (size of as they would offer freshness to debate and a supermarket car space) acceptable and be more open to change (this reminds me a windowless unit equally so, and as such of JTP and their SPD workshops on Central will stigmatize people’s lives. COVID can be Winchester Regeneration which involved seen as a housing disease generated by local schools and colleges). over-crowded conditions and that the NHS, A hidden element in all our towns and cities which was founded for Health not Illness, is undoubtably our Heritage, because it is can only be supported by good housing something all too often taken for granted and and that good planning should help support not utilized as a magnet for regeneration. This this, homes having long-term needs. At one aspect arose many times in the Conversations time our planning system was relatively clear, and seemed to be a crucial factor for any but it has become one of the world’s most successful attempt in revitalization, especially complex, where developers can argue down now after the COVID-19 effect on economy. better outcomes claiming they meet housing I refer here to two enthusiastic contributions, needs, but these must be more than the one from Reading and one from , minimum. The proposal for this Act can be and again, please check their Council read in more detail on the TCPA website. websites to gain a fuller picture. The issues outlined here were developed Karen Rowland, Councillor and Heritage further in the Conversation with Matt Bell Champion for Reading, emphasized the of Grosvenor Britain and Ireland, which has need for Heritage Champions to implement recently published a new Community Charter Heritage Strategies that would consider that signals a way forward to re-building both place and building as assets, not to be public trust in planning. Their survey pointed discriminating, so within the built environment out that only 2% have trust in developers these must work and use such resources to and 7% in local authorities, disconcerting encourage the notion of Heritage, and that statistics which prompted their Charter for the Councils should work together with the radical improvement. This was to be a two- local Civic Society, which it does in Reading way process of engagement with community where its engagement with the community organizations: Listen First; Open Up; Make has produced most successful results as a it Easier; Be Accountable; co-produce a consequence of collaboration. It had been community asset map; invest time and noted, however, Heritage has become resource in community organizations to play recently much more political, especially an active and involved role that also enables through ignorance, as reactions often have community self-accountability. On their been wilfully destructive in certain instances website, www.grosvenor.com/positivespace and there is a need for balanced thought one can access their supporting essays that through intelligent and sympathetic research. underpin these aspirations. He put it quite bluntly that most developers haven’t a clue Alice Ullathorne who is the Heritage about community organizations or local needs Strategy Officer for Nottingham City Council, and Councils should stop using consultants endorses this need for collaboration but look instead to harnessing their own within the community which enables communal resources, and to engage the proactive projects to take place in their 15- community in on-going management. year Strategy Vision for the city thereby Even though Grosvenor is London-centric capitalizing on assets and driving economic this Charter and method could be applied vibrancy to celebrate their vision. She told of

10 the difference investment in Heritage makes established pattern appears obsolete. whether it’s a tangible artefact or intangible Neil McInroy, CEO of the Centre for Local traditional legend (Robin Hood) as all these Economic Strategies, presents this idea by make up the story of Nottingham and create referring to the High Street as the ‘canary an important attraction factor for visitors in the mine’ that signals the need to change and tourism. It became clear that close the economic model with a new paradigm collaboration with city organizations was key for capitalism that should be reset in the light to the achievements of their strategy panels of Climate Change and COVID. He gives who worked together as partnerships for 4 pointers towards this: 1) Dominance of evaluation and governance. The relationship with their Civic Society is significant as their economic ownership needs change for more contribution is seen as integral to the work social and local values; 2) Too much focus on of NCC. Progress is evaluated on an on- financial values and returns; 3) Local matters going basis, reviewed every six months with – reflect its place, identity, history and culture; an overall Review every 5 years. They are 4) Make sure more wealth is recirculated having to re-think their Strategy in the light and owned in place. This would lead to of COVID-19 for regeneration to support Community Wealth Building, i.e. who owns it economy and the High Street, but she felt all and who benefits by it – Localize, Socialize, this does not necessarily cost lots of money, Democratize. i.e. collaboration/cooperation shows that , and Paisley were towns money isn’t everything whereas good civic that had suffered considerable neglect and sense generates satisfaction and pride. decay and were in a very sad state of decline. The High Street Task Force conversations Their Councils appeared to be ineffective in were themed ‘From Recovery to creating strategies to combat their centres’ Transformation’ with many case histories wastelands so it became clear the only from towns and cities cited as examples of alternative was for the communities to take the many and various ways this regeneration action themselves. These three very different may be achieved, and the route-map sets towns show how inspired regeneration out the framework for this task. The Grimsey can be, and achieved, according to local Review “Build Back Better” has updated community initiatives. As Jess Steele said with the COVID-19 Supplement for Town of Hastings Council, it was not their job, Centres. This document is full of facts and and that’s the reason why city centres suffer, figures that point a way forward for positive and Gary Kerr of Paisley added that Council regeneration that reflects a cultural shift for and Community have different roles, that the future. It examines the generic nature Communities remain but Councils do not. of the town centre and high street and Hastings set up their Community Land Trust the reasons for decline (which had begun called Heart of Hastings, Paisley created the before Covid) were because many interests Paisley Community Trust and Aldershot Civic were those of absentee landlords whose Society wrote their Town Centre Vision to concerns were hardly civic, that retail and meet community needs that seemed to be businesses by conglomerates and chains ignored by their Council. These three very had taken over, footfall was failing because diverse and complex stories are well worth there was little else of cultural or leisure value pursuing through their websites: www. to attract, and dead shops do not a lively heartofhastings.org.uk, www.paisleytrust. high street make – or a public space to be org, www.aldershotcivicsociety.org.uk proud of. Transferring power to communities seems the way forward now since the old Arthur Morgan

11 Letter: Development of quality housing depends on planning controls

The Financial Times, July 24, 2020 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, as well as countless civic societies and other It is not only planning officers, or even the groups, have all expressed dismay at the Royal Institute of British Architects and worsening of already poor control. I imagine Campaign to Protect Rural England, who the engineers are also concerned about the are worried about the UK government’s structural implications of adding a further determination to extend permitted two storeys to a building in the absence of development rights (Report, July 22). planning controls. On the same day that minister Robert In addition, it’s a mere six months since Jenrick made his announcement, another the government-initiated Building Better, government-commissioned report from Building Beautiful Commission produced his own department, “Quality standard of its report on how, by improving design, homes delivered through change of use resistance to development could be permitted development rights”, revealed overcome. The report was launched by the that under a quarter of homes delivered same Robert Jenrick, who said in January in this way (ie, generally thorough office- that well-designed, high-quality homes and to-housing conversion, with no input from tree-lined streets should be the norm, not the local planning authority) met national the exception. space standards, with some studio flats as small as 16 square metres. Some had no Perhaps the minister has been windows at all. discombobulated by the Westferry affair in the meantime. People are already being housed in instant slums. Cutting out “unnecessary Judith Martin bureaucracy to give small business owners [This letter by Trust Council member Judith the freedom they need to adapt and evolve”, Martin was first published in the Financial as Mr Jenrick puts it, will only ensure more. Times of 24 July (reproduced by kind The Royal Town Planning Institute, the Town permission of the FT). An abridged version and Country Planning Association, and the subsequently appeared in The Week.]

Realising a Practical Vision for Winchester High Street

These proposals started as a personal If one seeks to establish the role of the Trust initiative and Stephen Harte did not seek the at this important time, it is clear that the Trust’s view other than looking for responses Trust is not the “planning and delivery body”, to his original article. However, Trust for that is the role of the city and county members Richard Baker and Arthur Morgan councils and builders and developers in the have now contributed to this response. solutions they provide. The role of the Trust is to access the extraordinary professional

12 expertise in the City and generate a dialogue There have been years for experts to analyse and strategy that the councils embrace and and find a way to reshape the traffic system take forward and to support them in their so as to create more pedestrianised areas deliberations, plans and developments. and so maximise the pleasure of the city. “How can we help” is the motto. These There has been some success but a more ideas are put forward to promote a strategy, radical revaluation is needed . Traffic is having framework plan and investment programme an increasingly degrading effect on the City by the two councils ideally collaboratively centre. The main problem is through-traffic. which will secure community support. Priority must be given to public transport, cycles and pedestrians. even though that We argue that the cultural/ historic value of will result in cars taking longer routes to the City should be prioritised by reuniting circumvent the City centre with short cuts the High Street with the pedestrian, so as to discouraged. give the City a coherent structure – a ‘linear piazza’ should be created as a strong spine There can be initial experimentation to test through the centre of the historic walled City out new arrangements and change can be -as an impetus to evolve a range of changes gradual and phased. and improvements. 1. Making Sussex Street two way would We thank those Trust members who get major traffic out of the Upper High responded in writing and verbally. There is Street and reduce traffic at the top end wide concern to overcome the serious traffic of the High Street. That would establish congestion which blights Winchester. The Upper High Street as the primary link from ‘linear piazza’ idea for the High Street was the station to the City via the Westgate liked as it would give a real public space which is the historic gateway to the High to Winchester, as in some of the great Street. The effect would be to anticipate European cities. the ‘linear piazza’, beyond the Westgate, running the length of the City centre,. The Atkins ‘Winchester Movement Strategy’ The effect would be to connect the city’s gives a different emphasis. It does not define cultural and leisure facilities. A visually the historic/cultural and physical importance strong entrance to the barracks and of the City centre, so achieving a reunited the military museums is also needed to High Street is not explored. As we see this attract visitors from off the High Street. as a ‘necessity’ we concentrate here on how 2. A first phase, which would transform the this can be achieved. upper part of the High Street would be Traffic Solutions to extend the pavement to the road edge Most comments were concerned with traffic on the south side, taking in the current management including making Sussex parking areas. The paved lower High Street two-way, pedestrianising Upper Street would then have much stronger High Street, questioning how a shared continuity with an enlarged paved area to pedestrian/vehicular crossing would work at the upper section. A strategy is needed the Jewry Street-Southgate Street junction to restrict traders’ deliveries to out of and alternative ways of vehicular circulation hours. Parking areas for delivery vehicles through the City centre. would ideally be accessed with automatic

13 retractable bollards. Initially, however, be located. If a two-way system was the system could be trialled quickly and established on the bus station side of inexpensively with, for example, banners King Alfred’s Statue this would provide an inserted in ground pockets to denote the increased area for pedestrians alongside road edge. Planned temporary closures Abbey Park with a square in front of and redirection of traffic, alternatives the Guildhall which would permit some could be trialled first, at weekends. A fully vehicular crossing of the Square and pedestrianised top part of the High Street some access to the bus station. Bus and may take longer to achieve. taxi arrangements would need adapting. Improving the pedestrian approach to 3. The paved area could eventually be the Town Bridge and the Chesil Street continuous across the Southgate car park and along the river would make Street/Jewry‌ Street junction which would sense for the future, improving the route become a shared pedestrian vehicle area to the leisure centre and Park and Ride . with appropriate surface finishes. To fully pedestrianise the top end of the High Street Practicalities would require detailed traffic analysis to There is a need to consider different ways of work through the consequences and funding, so as to make the City centre more affordability. Pedestrianising the area in attractive for visitors, as well as residents, front of Barclays bank would create a and for a strategy to manage visitor public shared space. numbers. Making a more beautiful and relevant pedestrianised City Centre requires 4. As a second phase, if George Street excellence in design and in particular traffic turned right into Jewry Street and landscaping, which will stimulate increasing only essential traffic turned left this would footfall, rental values and turnover. In the mix reduce the traffic using the Southgate will be specialist retail, restaurants, cafes, Street- Jewry Street junction. The lower offices, residential, cultural, health and end of George Street could be one educational facilities. way as far as Parchment Street. Traffic heading west would go by City Road Generally, there is the feeling that this Is the and Sussex Street to Road. To time to review and manage the future of our pedestrianise George Street would be a City. Covid has focused our minds on the bigger challenge. A refinement is for traffic need for change and to respond to new lights at the George Street/‌Jewry Street, ways of shopping, working and leisure in the Southgate Street/Jewry‌ Street and North City centre. We can learn from how other Walls/City‌ Road/‌Jewry Street junctions countries have achieved traffic free historic to manage a two-way system alternating centres for visitors. There is great potential as one-way from Southgate Street along to improve the City centre. Jewry Street. Perhaps some of the resistance to changing 5. At the east end, extending the the ways we access and move around pedestrianised High Street to King this historic city is because there are not Alfred’s Statue would raise the question convincing narratives to show how the of where buses and coaches would drop consequences of change can be managed off passengers and where taxis would effectively. There clearly are solutions available

14 and these have in part been addressed with design and management of an historic city the Atkins ‘Winchester Movement Strategy’ centre. recommendations regarding park and rides, These proposals are put forward as the cycling and walking and vehicular traffic foundation for future changes in movement circulation, changes to the bus system. As and space. They are intended to influence for buses, could Park and Ride be combined what the public sector and private sector more effectively with regular buses? Could might do. Cllr Martin Tod’s proposals staggered and flexible ways of working are good examples of how to achieve a reduce traffic concentration at peak times, wider solution but our contention is that with servicing of premises outside of peak it needs something fundamental to start hours? Consideration needs to be given to with. The High Street as spine and artery access for emergency services, to the use of for the rest of the historic core is what we materials to mark pedestrian priority and to believe is required. This principle can feed more imaginative ways of creating barriers. easily into the emerging Vision exercise. It Specific problems to be addressed: can take the principal and other measures 1. How a parent can take and collect forward in expectation of the emerging children to schools in different parts of Review Local Plan. The current transport the city and then go to their workplace. study must provide solutions that change 2. How someone living locally, whose the balance between pedestrian and traffic health/physical condition limits them requirements. There is a strong commercial from getting around, can access the city case for the High Street concept. In other centre. cities there has been an increase in footfall, 3. How the visitor on their first visit, or the in business and in rental returns from regular visitor coming for work or for increased pedestrianisation and public entertainment, can access the City centre realm improvement, giving a much improved from the station and also by car or bus. return on public and private investment. It 4. How maintenance of premises and would be good if we could distinguish access for emergency vehicles in the Winchester City Centre from others, e.g. pedestrian areas can be provided for. focusing on sculptures, or a more diverse 5. How cyclists can get to different parts of programme of street events. the City on designated cycle ways. There is therapeutic value for those living here Conclusion to share a common inspiring vision. We have Of primary importance is the achieving of a proposed solutions rather than just questions ‘linear piazza’ through the centre of the City. and criticism. We believe with patience and Traffic management is a key part of the whole energy from different views and emphasis picture but not the only concern. There that improvements can be introduced. If we will be different views about what should respond imaginatively to the future we can happen at different speeds and different enhance what we value. Schemes can be emphasis. After a time of adjustment we tested by temporary measures and change may predict some traffic will disappear can be planned incrementally with some key as travel behaviour changes. We share a simple interventions to begin with such as passion for Winchester’s future and believe are proposed here. it can be a European exemplar for the best Stephen Harte

15 CWT published a ‘Vision for Winchester’ in 2019. The first ‘vision’ was that a City-wide Urban Design Framework could be produced and adopted by the City Council as a Supplementary Planning Document. A pedestrian piazza along the High Street establishes a central part of a Framework. This plan, drawn by Richard Baker, has been developed as the first stage, to place the idea of a linear piazza in the High Street in the context of traffic and pedestrian circulation proposals.

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