West Waterlooville - Public Art Programme
West Waterlooville is a Major Development Area in the south-east of Winchester District, adjoining Waterlooville. On completion it will result in over 3,000 new homes. A public art programme, funded through a Section 106 agreement, has had various iterations since developer, Grainger PLC, gained planning permission in 2012.
In 2024 a renewed plan for the delivery of Public Art on the development was produced. It included an initial 18-month programme and an approach for the next ten years – the estimated time the developer will be on site. Please follow link on the right side of the page to view the full plan.
Plot Lines (2024-2026)
Led by artists and writers and using the power of storytelling and words to connect people, Plot Lines aimed to gather, listen to and share community stories and anecdotes from living in and near Waterlooville. Almost 800 people engaged in the programme, including 221 school children and residents from Wellington Vale Care Home. The sessions have produced writing shaped by memories, belonging and home. Plot Lines created space for residents to share their ideas and help to guide creative activity in the area.
Writer in residence
Writer in residence Aoife Mannix has been capturing personal experiences of people living and working in Newlands and Waterlooville. She has met with groups and individuals, conducting one on one interviews, delivering talks and leading creative sessions. Throughout the programme Aoife has been turning these stories into poems, excerpts of which are found on the artworks now on display.
Workshops
Five writers (four of them Hampshire-based) and a community facilitator have been working alongside Aoife, running events and workshops in Newlands and the surrounding areas. Plot Lines worked with local writer development agency ArtfulScribe to support mentoring and development for all artists on the programme. The workshops and associated printed books were delivered in three phases.
Phase One
Led by Aoife Mannix and Amelia Simpson
The first phase of activity observed present day Waterlooville, understanding the rhythms of the area and getting to know the residents. The writers attended events such as a taste of home workshop, VE day fete and memories workshop, Newlands community assembly, career pathways event and Crossing Newlands intergenerational workshop.
The first book was distributed to all homes in the development area in October 2025.
Phase Two
Led by Hannah Newton and Kym Devine
The second phase of activity explored memory, and the quiet details people hold onto as a place evolves over time. Working in partnership with Wellington Vale Care Home the writers delivered a block of ten workshops with residents with varying levels of dementia. The writers observed improved confidence and understanding in the residents and noted some who were initially reluctant to take part were joining in independently by the final sessions.
Writers also engaged with Plot Lines in the Landscape, Heritage Open Days and a number of community conversations.
The second book was distributed to all homes in the development area in March 2026.
Phase Three
Led by Anna Jones and Lucy Jones
The third phase of activity looked forward, speaking with young people about how they feel about where they live and what it means to them. The writers visited schools and youth groups, churches and art groups, as well as offering drop-in creative sessions at locations such as the library.
Writers also engaged Spooky Rock Snake, Remembrance events, Newlands Christmas Fayre, workshop with Springwood Writers Group, visits to Making Space and The Spring,
The third book was distributed to all homes in the development area in August 2026.
Community engagement
Gail Howard led on community engagement, working with groups and individuals to get to know the area. Gail conducted over 200 community conversations, chatting to people on doorsteps and whilst out walking in the area. She also organised multiple events, attended fetes and meetings and took people on trips to see art in other places. This work not only enabled the team to physically map where activity is happening but has nurtured a group of community members that are happy to be consulted on future art projects.
Final Artworks
The abstract community map featured on the cover of each of the books, highlights locations where people are coming together and being creative. This map became the basis for the artworks; graphic designers SOUP created the varying geometric shapes by joining the mapped points together. The locations of the artworks are also informed by the programme, working in partnership to highlight places that have been central to Plot Lines: Newlands Primary Academy, Wellington Vale Care Home, Waterlooville Library and Berewood Primary School. The artworks were installed in Newlands and Waterlooville in August 2026, once retired artworks at other locations will be gifted to Newlands Primary Academy who will retain the full set.
Programme Delivery
Plot Lines was designed and delivered by Studio Response who work with artists to develop projects that meaningfully engage with, and respond to, communities. Studio Response developed Plot Lines after reviewing the previous art programmes and creating a strategy for the remainder of the developer contributions. The Public Art Plan can be accessed here.
Professional evaluators Henry Mulhall and Siân Rosa Hunter Dodsworth were secured to measure and report progress and inform future recommendations. The Plot Lines evaluation report can be accessed here.
The team worked with a broad range of partners and would like to extend their thanks to:
- Christ Church,
- Crookhorn College,
- Dragonfly Arts Centre,
- Grainger PLC,
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust,
- Havant Borough Council,
- Making Space,
- Newlands Primary Academy,
- Newlands Community Group,
- Southern Music Project CIC,
- The Spring,
- Thrive at Horizon Waterlooville,
- Waterlooville Library,
- Wellington Vale Care Home,
- All individuals interviewed by Aoife, and partners who made introductions.
Visit the website: https://plotlines.co.uk/
Funding
The programme was funded by a developer’s contribution from Grainger PLC, which was agreed as part of the planning permission for West Waterlooville via Winchester City Council. The Agreement states that the contribution must be spent on art. Plot Lines was intentionally designed as an engagement programme, gathering the views and perspectives of community members to inform future programming.
