WINCHESTER preservation watchdogs have unveiled a radical vision that includes a major new bypass to the west of the city and extended Green Belt.

The City of Winchester Trust also wants to see a major reduction in traffic by reducing the number of car parks in the city centre.

Any major housing development in the future should go on the farmland north of Wellhouse Lane at Barton Farm and south of the A34.

The trust, which has more than 500 members, says the city needs a strategic plan as it grapples with a number of major schemes including Silver Hill, Station Approach, Barton Farm and the new sports centre at Bar End.

As well as a new bypass linking Pitt roundabout with Andover Road North skirting the Royal Winchester Golf Club and the edge of Sir John Moore Barracks which is due to be vacated by the military in 2021.

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The trust also calls for the countryside on the west and south to be protected by a new Green Belt.

The closure of part of Andover Road to through traffic, a controversial part of the Barton Farm/Kings Barton scheme should be reviewed.

Parking in the city centre should be reduced to a minimum and use of park and ride encouraged. That would encourage the extension of pedestrian zones.

Senior members of the trust gave a presentation to the town forum last Thursday.

Its vision is a way of juggling the pressures of growth and change, with protecting its heritage. Trust chairman Keith Leaman said: “We recognise Winchester’s greatest asset is its history.”

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The trust says the city is expected to grow by 20 per cent over the next 10 years or so.

It is calling for a master plan: “It does seem perverse to carry on with development without knowing more accurately how the city is likely to be affected in the short, medium and long long term by any new development - a masterplan would seem to be an essential ingredient with which to start.”

John Hearn, a retired senior planning officer at the city council, said he hoped the trust’s vision would be adopted as official planning guidance by the council.

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John Beveridge told the forum that it was important Winchester was prepared for the future and there was a need to encourage tourism and culture and nurture the knowledge-based economy, including higher education, media/creative industries and craft-based activities.

Mr Beveridge said the trust supported calls for a bigger museum and new multi-purpose hall.

Responding at the forum, Cllr Dominic Hiscock said of the Green Belt proposal: “If we are not careful we are going to get the city pot-bound, so dense and so expensive.”

Cllr Martin Tod added: “We may be forced with hard choices, things we are hearing from Government about a big increase in housing numbers. We need to be careful over what constraint we put on ourselves.”

On landscape setting the trust believes green belt designation would check unrestricted sprawl and preserve the city’s unique setting.

On the local economy the trust argues there is potentially too much reliance on shops and restaurants. There should be greater awareness of changes in working practices with people working from home and in shared spaces.

New rail stations should be considered for Kings Worthy/A34 and St Cross.

On housing the trust wants to see denser new development more akin to the Victorian and Edwardian suburbs such as Hyde and Fulflood. That would reduce pressure on the countryside as well as being more sustainable.

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The report states: “Land that in the past has been considered sacrosanct is no longer necessarily the case. Much of the land close to towns and cities is now likely to be considered for a its development potential.”

A plan is needed for tree planting to maintain the city’s leafy character.

The trust also wants the planning department at the city council strengthened with greater expertise over good design.

  • What do you think of the vision? Write to letters@hampshirechronicle.co.uk.