Decision details

To provide an update on the commercial prospects study for Portchester commissioned by the Council.  To consider and approve the next steps for improvements to the layout of the public car parks to the south of Portchester (Village) Centre and pedestrian links.  Since producing a Regeneration Vision for Portchester in 2017, Fareham Housing has identified Assheton Court for redevelopment, which is the subject of another report on this Executive agenda.  If this proposed redevelopment goes ahead it has a clear relationship with the car parks which abut the site.  The report also briefly explains the emerging Transforming Cities Fund bid to Government, which is looking to improve rapid transit in the wider Portsmouth City-Region, which could include improvements along the A27 close to Portchester (Village) Centre.

The report briefly outlines the background to delivering the proposed improvements to Portchester (Village) Centre, identified in the Vision produced after extensive consultation entitled ‘Putting the Village back into Portchester’ as part of the wider regeneration strategy.  It reports on key findings from the commissioned consultant’s report in the future commercial prospects for the (Village) Centre.  It provides an update on the possible implications of the Assheton Court redevelopment and emerging Transforming Cities Funding bid, if successful, on these regeneration ambitions.  The report proposed the next steps to implementing improvements in the short-term to the layouts of the southern public car parks and pedestrian links to the Centre utilising existing Section 106 monies.  Officers recommend that a procurement exercise is undertaken for the design and implementation of improvements to the car park and pedestrian linkages to the Centre.  A future Executive Report in Summer 2020 will detail the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders for consultation.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  notes the findings of the commercial prospect study and update on the emerging Transforming Cities Fund;

(b)  agrees that further work is undertaken by officers to ensure that up-to-date information on car park use is used to support work developing a detailed design car park scheme; and

(c)  agrees that Officers undertake a procurement exercise to develop and deliver a detailed scheme design to implement improvements to the southern public car parks and pedestrian linkages to the Portchester (Village) Centre, prior to consulting on a TRO in the summer of 2020.