Town Forum to debate Friarsgate redevelopment
Winchester's Town Forum will host Thornfield Properties and key members of their project team, led by architects Allies & Morrison, to begin the public discussion and debate on the design of the new Broadway/Friarsgate site at its meeting on 28 February.Winchester City Council and their development partners Thornfield asked the Forum to hold the meeting, and Thornfield hope to complete the consultation process and submit a planning application later this year.
Cllr Sheila Campbell, Leader of Winchester City Council, said: "Now that we have reached formal agreement with Thornfield to develop the site, we want to turn the focus to what the new development will actually look like.
"There has been a lot of misinformation lately, and we are anxious that the local community have an early opportunity to influence this crucial development. I look forward to a lively discussion which will help in the transformation of the city centre."
Mike Capocci, Managing Director of Thornfield Properties, said: "We want to hear the ideas and concerns of the local community about the future of this important site so they can be fed into the design process at an early stage.
"Allies and Morrison were appointed as architects for the Friarsgate development, not just by Thornfield, but by a Panel of local stakeholders including the Council. Their designs for the site are at a very preliminary stage and the meeting with the Forum is an excellent opportunity for the community to make its views known so they can help shape the detailed architectural work.
"We hope this will be the start of constructive dialogue with the community, leading up to a detailed design and the submission of a planning application later this year", he added.
At the Town Forum Thornfield Properties will give a brief overview of progress towards the re-development of Friarsgate, while Allies and Morrison will outline their preliminary ideas for the future of the site, before a general debate.