We've announced our Development Partner

We've appointed Jigsaw Consortium trading as Partnerships & Places to bring forward the Central Winchester Regeneration (CWR) project in the city centre.

Following extensive public engagement and community consultation, the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) sets out a vibrant regeneration in a circa four-acre area of the city with a wide-ranging mix of uses including flexible work and creative spaces, food and drink offerings, a hotel and new high-quality public spaces. The proposals also include new homes to suit people of all life-stages, with a range of tenures available including private sale, homes for rent and affordable housing.

Committed to bringing social and economic value to the city, Jigsaw Consortium is a partnership between Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Limited (Kajima and Genr8 Developments) and PfP igloo (PfP Capital and igloo Regeneration.) The consortium has assembled its team from the best creative talent in the UK, including architectural practices, urban designers, engineers, landscape architects, and specialist archaeologists and is also committed to drawing in additional local expertise as the project develops. Collectively, the partnership has the vision, expertise, track-record, and financial means to work in partnership with the city council to deliver the benefits of the CWR project to Winchester and the district.

Jigsaw Consortium is committed to working closely with local people and businesses in Winchester throughout the life span of the project, bringing both social and economic value to the area.

John Long, development director at PfP igloo, said: “The whole Jigsaw Consortium team is truly honoured to have been selected as the council’s development partner for this project. We recognise the enormous responsibility and privilege that we have in bringing forward a development in such an historic city.  We, and the incredible talent in the design team we have assembled for this project, will work tirelessly to make it a success.”

Tamsin Traill, regeneration director at Genr8 Kajima Regeneration, added: “We are excited to be working with Winchester City Council to deliver this extremely important project.  The newly formed consortium is a collaboration between market experts in social and sustainable development and will ensure that we are able to deliver a truly special place within Winchester.”

Our vision for Central Winchester Regeneration, as set out in the supplementary planning document (SPD,) is for a mixed-use, sustainable, pedestrian-friendly quarter that reflects the distinctive character of the city centre, set within attractive open spaces.  Working with a development partner, the council is proposing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver a wider choice of shops, restaurants, cafés, and office and creative spaces across the centre of Winchester alongside new homes, community, cultural and public spaces.The regeneration site includes Kings Walk, Friarsgate and the bus station, as set out in the approved SPD.

The Jigsaw team wil support the council in bringing significant benefits to everyone living and working in and around our district.

Having listened to local people through the consultation on the development proposals for the site, we are bringing sustainable high quality homes for local people, creative work spaces, shops, hotel, leisure facilities and improved public spaces that will better connect the area to the wider city and district. The proposals will not compete with what Winchester already has, but will be distinctive and add to it.

The regeneration will boost footfall in the city centre as a whole and spending among shoppers, while new cultural and hotel facilities will enhance Winchester’s reputation both in the UK and globally, allowing the city and wider district to become a more attractive destination and a hub for people and businesses across the South of England. 

New housing for sale and rent within the city centre will help to meet demand for homes across the district.  The development will provide for people at all life stages and will include homes designed to encourage young people and graduates of our universities and colleges to stay in the city, adding to our economy and – in particular – driving innovation and entrepreneurial businesses.

Our current plans for Friarsgate

We will be demolishing the derelict Friarsgate Medical Centre on the site as part of the CWR proposals.  However, Friarsgate lies within a Conservation Area, so any demolition proposal is required to propose an alternative use for the site before it is approved.

Prior to the development partner working up more detailed proposals for the site, we had originally planned to create a new temporary area - meanwhile use - of public open space.  Significant inflation in construction costs have caused us to reconsider if this is the most efficient temporary use of the site.  We are, therefore, currently looking at how it could be used as an area to for our local community to learn a little more about the archaeology of Winchester.

Our current plans for Kings Walk

Kings Walk is a really important part of the CWR area.

In the short-term – and working closely with the established business community in Kings Walk – we are making improvements to the open spaces across this area of the city centre, including the creation of a new ‘Courtyard Garden’ shared by traders and the Nutshell Theatre, plus improved planting, lighting, and wayfinding through Kings Walk.

Our longer-term aspirations focus on creating a ‘creative quarter’ in the CWR area for independent businesses and entrepreneurs in a far more attractive environment where people can work and create, and shoppers and visitors to the centre of Winchester can meet and relax.

Last Updated: Tuesday 21 March 2023