City site could attract national firm (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
City site could attract national firm
12:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News
By Andrew Napier, Winchester Chief Reporter
City site could attract national firm
WINCHESTER could attract the headquarters of a national company if the area around the railway station is redeveloped, a meeting heard.
Architect Paul Bulkeley said the area around the railway station was ripe for regeneration with potential for very big buildings.
“We are talking nine to ten storeys. That is a lot of floor space, the kind of building a major company might relocate to from London.
"These are the kind of heights that would be enough to generate serious interest from developers while not doing harm to the skyline of the city.
“It would bring employment back out of London. People would be working somewhere they want to live, that is a more sustainable future.”
Speaking at a meeting called by the City of Winchester Trust and Winchester Action on Climate Change, Mr Bulkeley said another option was for a major arts building. “Where are the cultural buildings in Winchester? For the city we aim to be, I don’t think we have that many.”
The meeting heard that the land is mainly owned by the city and county councils and Network Rail, relatively few landowners which would make development easier.
The land in question stretches from Gladstone Street to the Cattle Market off Worthy Lane and is mainly car parks.
Around 50 people attended the thought-provoking meeting at the United Church and responded to the suggestions by Messrs Bulkeley and Ashe.
Angela Sealey, vice chairman of WinACC, asked: “What would we like to see in this area? What would excite us? Do we want a theatre, an opera house? Do we want more exciting public spaces or more interesting commercial space? It is a challenge of thinking differently about these spaces.”
David Jones said: “Let’s concentrate on what is successful, forget offices. Athena House has been empty for two years.. It’s education, culture and leisure.”
Ester Hack, of nearby Stockbridge Road, said: “We need to think about what people need. I would be happy to make the area a park. The idea of nine storey buildings is horrendous.”
Eleanor Waterhouse, a trust member, said: “We need more leisure facilities. There is nothing for young people to do in Winchester.”
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “We are always keen to carry out improvement work at stations for the benefit of passengers but are not involved in discussions to develop land at or near Winchester station.
"Work is due to start imminently to install a new footbridge inside the station which will improve accessibility to the platforms and concourse for passengers.”
For more Winchester news:
- Girls found after two day search
- Residents prepare to fight school plan
- Fears grow for missing girls
- All for onesie! Walkers remember Richard
- Controversial cabin site about to open
- Queen's coronation celebration
- Crash victim still fights for life
- Hampshire man is one 'Tough Mudder'
one in a million says...
11:00am Thu 14 Mar 13
" What would excite us? Do we want a theatre, an opera house?" by "we" do they mean the upper classes?
And as for a major headquarters of a national firm; this is the same short sighted bunch who have built a massive car park on greenfield land to deter shoppers; would they really want a national firm sat in the city centre?
"People would be working somewhere they want to live, that is a more sustainable future" - Who exactly can afford to live in Winchester?? The rich and those in affordable housing!
This country is going to the dogs, it really is.