To receive a
presentation from Mr. Steve Walker from Allies and Morrison.on
the draft Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus currently out for consultation.
Minutes:
The Panel welcomed Ms. Louise Mansfield
from Allies and Morrison Urban Practioners to the
meeting to present the draft Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus, along with Mr. Keith
Holland, Head of Planning.
Ms. Mansfield explained that the
Aldershot Prospectus set out the Council’s strategy for regeneration of the
town centre. The document had been
prepared following input from local stakeholders and the community and had been
designed to draw on Aldershot’s key assets, such as its history, changing
demographics, current investment programmes, good rail and road connections and
beautiful landscape setting. The
Prospectus had been based on viable investment and development options and
would also act as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), meaning it would be
a material planning consideration for future planning applications in the town
centre.
There were six key themes to the
vision for the town centre:
1.
Revitalisation of the town centre – the Council
would welcome new retailers, support specialist retailers that provide an
alternative offer to other centres and seek to bring homes, leisure and office
uses into the centre to support shops.
2.
Town Centre Living – would be promoted to meet
the need for new homes from young professionals wishing to move to the area due
to the relatively affordable homes. The
properties would cater for young people starting out, families and older people
wishing to downsize.
3.
A family-friendly town centre – the Council
would seek to enhance this with additional activities such as town centre
leisure facilities and town centre spaces.
4.
An improved cultural offer – the Council was
reviewing opportunities such as the transformation of the Princes Hall and the
extension of the successful events programme in the town.
5.
Investing in streets and spaces – following on from the Activation
Aldershot programme, further investment priorities had been identified to
create a central public space for Aldershot and to improve entrances into the
town centre.
6.
Affirming the Victorian heritage – the Council
would commit to maintaining and enhancing the town’s Victorian heritage and
buildings in order to complement new buildings in the town centre.
The Prospectus set out a detailed
Masterplan for the key development and refurbishment opportunities in the
town. Sites identified included the
Galleries site, the Union Street group of buildings, the Rail Station area, and
the area around Princes Hall, including the refurbishment of the theatre.
It was reported that from 30th
September, wider consultation had been taking place on the Prospectus which was
was due to end on 11th November, 2015. It was reported that a number of themes had
emerged in the feedback received so far which focussed on:
·
the lack of shops/major quality retailers in the
town, including the need for a large ‘anchor’ store;
·
rents being too high;
·
parking fees;
·
redevelopment of the Galleries should be a
priority;
·
support for the redevelopment of Princes Hall
and the Police Station as well as the railway station;
·
strong support for recognising the Victorian
heritage.
The Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus
SPD contained a series of projects that would shape the centre over the next
fifteen to twenty years and beyond. It
was intended to be visionary, yet flexible to ensure that it could meet changes
in circumstances, especially economic and property related.
With regard to making it happen, it
was highlighted that town centres were challenging development environments,
particularly so with the gradual decline in retail. Arguably, many town centres were undergoing a
revolution rather than evolution. This applied
more so to Aldershot town centre where some sites were particularly complex.
It was stressed, that the Council’s
ownership in the key areas was limited and the Council was therefore not in a
position to deliver the proposals set out in the Prospectus alone. However, there was a strong case for
considerable strategic intervention by the Council to achieve the aims of the
Masterplan. The Panel was assured that
the Council would use its powers and resources in a proactive way where
necessary to enable development and investment in the town through de-risking
opportunities, for example site assembly and securing SANGs (Suitable
Alternative Natural Green Space) and funding.
It was also proposed that the Council could look at the acquisition of
strategic interests in the town.
However, it was acknowledged that there was unlikely to be a ‘one size
fits all’ mechanism for projects with delivery and funding mechanisms being
provided by the public sector, private sector and public/private partnerships.
The Panel discussed the Prospectus
and, overall was very enthusiastic about the ideas in the document. The Panel discussed the viability of the
projects and highlighted the pressing need to attract retailers in order to
ensure that the town centre would be an attractive destination for residents of
the Wellesley development. The Panel was
informed that the document would be used as a marketing tool to help encourage
investment.
Following discussion on the major
issues raised in the Prospectus the Panel RECOMMENDED
that:
1.
The old Aldershot Town Hall was a significant
building which deserved priority to emphasise its role in the development of
Aldershot.
2.
Good quality family living in the town centre
was vital (including good quality new builds and conversions).
3.
Princes Hall – its location was supported but
its size and capacity should be expanded.
4.
The principle of having a good town square was
endorsed but the Panel wanted to see a well-defined and well-framed town square
irrespective of its location.
5.
The emphasis on the town’s Victorian heritage
and architecture was endorsed and it was felt that this should have prominence
in the document and should be promoted, protected, enhanced and preserved.
6.
Redundant sites on Windsor Way should be linked
more to the Railway Station development in the document.
7.
A Heritage Trail was considered an excellent
idea and should be referenced in the document.
It was suggested that this could be enhanced through the use of good
public art (not forgetting the military).
8.
the wording of the ‘Making it Happen’ section
should be reviewed to emphasise the Council’s role in working with private
landowners.
It was explained that the Panel’s
recommendations, together with feedback from the wider consultation would be
incorporated into the proposed Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus Supplementary
Planning Document. The document would be presented to Cabinet for consideration
in due course.
The Panel NOTED the presentation and ENDORSED
the submission of the proposed Supplementary Planning Document and its
recommendation to the Cabinet.