Leading housing association, VIVID, has submitted a planning application for the major regeneration of central Winklebury. The masterplan includes 203 highly sustainable, modern homes (40% for affordable housing), a large new community park on the former Fort Hill School site, a pre-school, high-quality play facility, a new medical centre, multi-use community space and a retail hub that meets local needs and reflects the changing retail landscape.

As one of the largest housing associations in the south of England, VIVID has worked closely with the residents of Winklebury, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) and other key stakeholders, to create an exciting new regeneration plan that will benefit the whole community.

The most recent public engagement event took place in March 2022, where the proposals were presented and VIVID answered questions ahead of submitting its planning application. Key changes to the proposals that resulted from this most recent consultation include increased parking provision for residents and visitors and the addition of a new, multi-purpose community space. The community space will be located on the Winklebury Way, in the Winklebury Centre - close to the health provision, the new shops, new homes and the church. It will offer a base to deliver a variety of activities to a wide range of groups, for both those in Winklebury and future residents of Manydown, for many years to come.

Alongside high-quality new homes that will replace ageing accommodation on the site, the proposals open up 4.5 hectares of previously inaccessible green space, to create a new public park. A fort-themed, sustainable play area will also be located here, which will be inclusive and accessible for all. New signposting and landmarking will recognise and celebrate the local heritage of Fort Hill. A modern, secure, new pre-school building will replace the current temporary facilities in this location. A new Winklebury Centre will feature street frontage and parking and retail units will benefit from enhanced facilities, providing opportunities for local business owners and bringing convenience for local shoppers.

The new medical centre, designed in partnership with the ICB to meet local need, will be a multi-purpose, futureproof new building, in an accessible location on Winklebury Way. It will benefit from general practitioners, nurses, and additional healthcare staff to meet the needs of the population, such as mental health workers, health coaches and social prescribers.

Sustainability will be at the forefront of the regeneration, with waste reduction in place during construction, a ‘fabric first’ approach to ensure energy efficiency in every home, air source heat pumps will be installed instead of traditional gas boiler systems and PV panels, also known as Solar electricity panels.

Mike Shepherd, Group Development and New Business Director, at VIVID, said: “We received a fantastic response from the local public whilst we were creating our proposals and via our thorough consultation for Winklebury. The feedback shared has come from a diverse range of voices in and around the area, enabling us to shape our plans for an exciting, modern new community, with much-needed affordable homes and new public spaces for people to come together and enjoy.”

“Submitting the planning application presents a unique opportunity to access a significant level of grant funding from the Government, which will allow us to invest in regenerating and transforming central Winklebury.”

Visit www.vividhomes.co.uk/about-us/more-homes/developments/winklebury for more information about the project.

You’ll be able to track the progress of the planning application on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s website via the planning portal.