Archived decisions

Contact: Jonathan Crabb, ext 6047

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides an update on the development of proposals for Totton town centre.

2. Background

2.1 The County Council, New Forest District Council and Totton and Eling Town Council undertook a period of public consultation in September 2002 on draft proposals for Totton town centre. This provided local people, interest groups and businesses the opportunity to comment upon specific proposals which include the following:

(i) new planning standards to raise the quality of design for new buildings, public spaces and renovations;

(ii) measures to control traffic congestion and make streets safer and easier to use by bus, by bicycle or on foot; and

(iii) improvements to the environment in the town to make it a better place to live, visit, work or shop.

2.2 A long term vision for Totton is proposed in line with a series of guiding principles for the development of the centre, under the following headings:

(i) Sustainability;

(ii) Vitality and Variety;

(iii) Sense of Place;

(iv) Community;

(v) Permeability; and

(vi) Robustness.

3. Consultation

3.1 There were four days of public exhibitions at Totton Civic Centre at which over 1,300 people attended. The (unmanned) exhibition remained at the Civic Centre for a further week. Attendees were able to complete a questionnaire providing their comments on the proposals.

3.2 A comprehensive publicity campaign was undertaken, including leaflets distributed to 10,000 households and briefings for Members, local traders and the press, and radio coverage.

3.3 The questionnaires are currently being analysed and the outcomes will be reported to the next meeting of the Panel, along with a proposed way forward to develop the Strategy.

3.4 The proposals have built upon previous consultation with a wide number of professional stakeholders, including the district and town councils and a meeting of the Totton Town Forum with local business interests.

4. Funding and Delivery

4.1 A budget of £500,000 is included in the South West Hampshire Transport Strategy programme during the current Local Transport Plan, which is being used to develop the schemes. The Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programme has a budget of £300,000.

4.2 The total cost of the range of schemes identified is substantial and would be delivered over the longer term. This cost is in excess of the existing allocation within the SWHTS programme. The intention of the consultation was to agree on the principles of the vision and gain the support of the local community prior to detailed development of individual projects within a phased programme. The priorities for implementation will be agreed upon at a later date.

4.3 The programme for the ROUA scheme will be reported to the Executive Member for Environment in the near future, which will include the area of Rumbridge Street, as well as the commercial centre of Totton.

4.4 Concurrently the schemes form an integral element of the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for the town prepared by New Forest District Council, which has also been published for comment. It provides an urban design framework and is supplementary to the Local Plan.

4.5 This SPG has been developed in conjunction with transportation proposals for the centre, which include reducing the severance caused by the major transport corridors and reducing the level of through traffic in the town which could use more appropriate routes.

4.6 Copies of the SPG will be made available to Members.

Recommendation

That the progress on the development of schemes for Totton be noted.

7447/JC