Velmore Redevelopment

Update October 2009

Although the resolution to grant a planning consent was passed at the Eastleigh Local Area Committee on 1 October 2008, we have only just received the actual planning consent. The reason this took longer than usual is because the Section 106 Agreement, which is the document which secures the £1.5m Developer’s Contributions for use on the estate, had to be drafted to reflect the fact that First Wessex, rather than Eastleigh Borough Council, will be in charge of spending some of these contributions. This is a major divergence from Eastleigh’s normal procedures so we had to make sure the document was correctly drafted in legal terms.

Section 106 ‘head of terms’ specifies how these contributions can be allocated. However, we have been able to negotiate with EBC and HCC, using the consultation information collected from residents last year to help shape the proposals for allocating these funds. Further consultation will still be necessary but the key projects will be:

  • Development of a Transport Plan for the area,
  • Public Art project
  • Exploring the feasibility of developing an enhanced community facility for the estate.

We are now very pleased to report that we are in contract with Lovells for the first phase of the redevelopment, which comprises Kent Road, Surrey Road, Chapel Corner and Somerset Crescent together with part of Belmont Road. It is expected that the second and final phase will follow on immediately after, with possibly some overlap of certain works.

We still have to purchase some land from Eastleigh Borough Council and this process if progressing well. and we are in the process of finalising the Section 106 agreement with HCC and EBC which will secure approximately £1.5m in developers contributions to be spent on the estate.

Lovells have recruited their Resident Liaison Officer, and this lady will soon be working closly with the residents of the estate.

PROGRAMME

The phasing is dependent on ensuring our residents' needs are met, purchasing land where necessary and also what is practical in construction terms. We give below our current estimation of how the phasing will work.

  • Chapel Corner, Kent Road: completions estimated July 2010
  • Somerset Crescent/Belmont Road: completions phased to March 2011
  • Surrey Road: completions phased to August 2011
  • Kent Road: completion May 2011
  • Cornwall Road: second phase - completion 2011 or 2012
  • Westfield Crescent: second phase - completion 2011 or 2012
  • Sussex Road: second phase - completion 2011 or 2012
  • Belmont Road (remainder): second phase - completion 2011 or 2012

To see the versions of the plans that were approved by Committee please click on the links below (under Plans By Road).  Other documents that were submitted with the planning application are also available (see list of hyperlinks below).

We will complete the refurbishment of the 18 bungalows in Somerset Crescent by the end of 2009

Plans By Road

DEVELOPERS' CONTRIBUTIONS

These contributions are made as part of the planning agreement between First Wessex (previously known as Atlantic Housing), Eastleigh Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, as mentioned above.

Most people think that developers build homes, make large profits and leave without contributing to the local community. In reality, local communities often get much more out of new property developments than just new buildings/homes. Although it is not widely known, developers across the UK contribute billions of pounds towards community infrastructure and services.

In many development schemes, the developer will agree to make a contribution to the local authority as part of the negotiations to counter any negative impact on the community. These contributions are designed to ensure that the community sees tangible benefits from new development.

Each local authority sets out the amounts required and what the contributions can be spent on. They are a mandatory requirement and cannot be used by the local authority for other purposes.

EBC and Hampshire County Council have agreed to allow First Wessex to lead on three specific community projects as a result of the 106 agreement on the Velmore redevelopment.

The first project is to either refurbish or rebuild Velmore Church with extended rooms/facilities for the community. The aspiration is to improve this as a community space providing the opportunity for greater activity and use by the community. The church would continue to run both the church and any enhanced community facility and we are working closely with them and EBC to ensure this project benefits the needs of the community and can deliver activities and services that serve the community.

This is of course is all dependant on the cost. The first step in this process will be to undertake a feasibility study to establish whether this proposal is financially viable.

Once we have established the financial viability we will of course then begin consultation with the community on what the residents would like to use the proposed extended facility for. Feedback from previous consultation undertaken as part of the Velmore Redevelopment has already provided us with some information but community needs may have changed. Undertaking further consultation is a necessity to trying to ensure that we provide what is most needed and within the resources available. We also in the consultation process anticipate the potential needs of new residents that will eventually be part of this community.

Alongside this project we will also be developing a travel plan for the Velmore community as part of the transport contributions that are also a mandatory part of the 106 agreement.

A travel plan is a package of measures designed to reduce car use originating from new housing in an area by supporting alternative forms of transport and reducing the need to travel in the first place.

The role of the appointed Travel Plan co-ordinator will be to develop a package for residents to both reduce the traffic generated by the new housing and increasing the travel choices available to new and existing residents.

These may include developing safer walking routes to schools thereby reducing the need for cars to be used, and there could potentially be local cycle lanes plus discounted fares on community transport schemes.

Consultation and research will be undertaken within the community to decide the best strategy for meeting this challenge. You will be hearing more from us in the future on this.

Finally we will be leading on the development of Public Art for the area and again we will be appointing an artist to work with the community to develop a thought provoking public art piece or pieces that are imaginatively integrated within the community facility or landscape in some guise.

For further information on all these projects please contact Amber Skyring on 02380 684319.