Winchester

360. With its Cathedral and College, Roman and medieval street pattern, a wealth of buildings of great historical and architectural merit, and its landscape setting, Winchester is important in a national and European context. It is one of 15 towns referred to in the RPG9 whose character needs to be protected from the effects of traffic and excessive urban development.

361. There is a tension between the need to conserve the historic fabric and the setting of the City and the need to provide homes, jobs and other facilities for people who live and work there. The historic character of the City is a principal attraction for visitors and tourists. This popularity has an impact on the City's environment.

362. It is important that the City should continue to prosper. Economic activities such as tourism, retailing and other businesses provide investment for the maintenance of the historic core as well as for the day-to-day needs of its population. Homes need to be provided for future generations. Protection of the City's character requires the conservation of the historic fabric, townscape and street pattern of the City's core. Redevelopment and change within the historic core should respect the existing street pattern and density of development. New buildings should respect important views and skylines.

E19 Development within, adjoining, or in the vicinity of, the built-up area of Winchester will be controlled to secure protection of the heritage and historic fabric of the City. An assessment of environmental capacity will be carried out in order to direct development to the most suitable locations which will be defined in the local plan.

363. Protecting the character of Winchester will require appropriate measures to control development in the areas that contribute to the historic setting as well as within the urban area. Winchester is a compact city in a countryside setting. Its compactness is important to its identity. The urban edge must be clearly defined and, where appropriate, reflect the historic aspects of the City's development. Nearby villages should retain their separation from the City. There are also features of particular environmental value, as historic survivals, wildlife habitats, landscape features or because they are easily accessible for recreation.

364. The requirement of the Policy for an environmental capacity study has been addressed by Winchester City Council in the Future of Winchester study.