CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT5 The framework masterplan

for Whitehill Bordon

5.1 The framework masterplan provides a broad strategic plan setting out how growth and change could take place in Whitehill Bordon over the next 25 years. It identifies locations for new housing, schools, employment and a new town centre. It shows how the existing green spaces of the town will be connected with new public green spaces to form a landscape setting for the town, and how new cycling and walking routes will join the east and west of the town together.

5.2 The framework plan is intended as a starting point from which detailed proposals can be developed and tested. Over time the plan may change and evolve in response to more detailed technical work, changing markets, new opportunities and local community needs.

Our vision – ‘One Green Town’

5.3 The overarching objective for Whitehill Bordon must be to deliver ‘One Green Town’ – a place where the quality of life, opportunity and environment are raised for both existing and new residents to the town. The challenges of adapting to climate change and the need for one planet living apply equally to those living in older homes as well as new homes. Whitehill Bordon has the opportunity to show what is possible in both contexts and be an exemplar for existing towns and areas experiencing growth across the country.

Introduction to the masterplan5.4 The masterplan aims to deliver on a range of policy targets, community priorities, aspirations and viability considerations. These are not always without conflict, and the masterplan aims to provide a solution which balances the targets to create a well-rounded development framework.

5.5 The key priorities include the need to:-

• protect European Habitats (SPA/SAC) and provide SANGS and retain green spaces within the town including Hogmoor Inclosure and Standford Grange

• provide land for employment growth to secure a new role for the town when the MoD leave

• provide housing to meet South East Plan and Eco-town PPS growth targets

• meet Eco-town PPS and Green Town Vision sustainability targets

• provide a new town centre, community facilities and sports pitches (the top priorities emerging from public consultation)

• create a public transport system that will offer a real alternative to car travel and avoid traffic impact in the town and on nearby villages

• create a commercially viable scheme that can be delivered

and most importantly, to create a place where people enjoy a high quality of life and a cohesive community.

93WHITEHILL BORDON DRAFT FRAMEWORK MASTERPLAN

Shortheath CommonSAC / SSSI

Broxhead CommonSPA / SSSI

Woolmer Forest SPA / SSSI

Woolmer Forest SAC

LINDFORD ROAD

FAR

NH

AM R

OAD

CAM

P R

OAD

HIG

H S

TRE

ET

FIRGROVE ROAD

HO

GM

OO

R R

OAD

FOR

EST

ROAD

LIPHOOK ROAD

WALLDOWN ROAD

CONDE WAY

HOLLYBROOK

PAR

K

FOR

EST

RO

AD

CHALET HILL

OAKHANGER ROAD

Bordon Infant & Junior School

S

BUDDS LANE

TATION ROAD

WoolmerTrading Estate Tesco

Local shops

ChaseCommunityHospital

Forest Centre

HO

GM

OO

R R

OAD

WHITEHILL ROAD

Hollywater

HO

LLY

WA

TER

RO

AD

Deadwater

River We

Alexandra Park

Bordon Park

primary school

primary school

primary school

Whitehill Club

Hogmoor InclosureStandford Grange

y

MILL CHASE ROAD

LIPHO

OK ROAD

Lindford

Cemy

STA

ND

FOR

D L

ANE

Standford

STA

ND

FOR

D LAN

E

B

B.O.S.C.

ordonTradingEstate

Weyford Infant& Junior School

Woodlea PrimarySchool

HollywaterPrimary School

Eveley Wood

PET

ERSF

IELD

RO

AD

Whitehill Bordon Opportunity Masterplan

22.01.10

Mixed use town centre core

Employment

Community and education

Commercial leisure

Residential character areas -

Green roots

Green streets

Green views

Buildings for potential retentionwithin development areas

Existing built up areas

Strategic public transport corridor

Public transport hub - connecting with local bus routes

Disused rail corridor safeguarded for potential future use

Green infrastructure -

Green loop town wide recreation routes

Natural open space, parks and recreation areas (SANGS)

Sports and leisure - indoor and outdoor

School pitches

Indicative locations for allotments

Wildlife corridors

Special Protection Areas & Special Areas of Conservation

400m buffer to SPA / SAC

South Downs National Park boundary

(Striped areas indicate a mix of uses)

Core strategy, emerging policy boundaries,

correct at November 2009 -

Existing development boundary

Extended development boundary

Eco-town Policy Zone

0m 100m 500m

N

A variety of housing areas containing a range of housing types and styles. Based on average densities around 4000 new homes would be built in these areas.

A new town centre with shopping for clothes and shoes (comparison shopping) as well as food shops and markets. Potential for a new hotel in the Sergeants’ Mess.

Executive eco-homes homes built to lower than normal densities within the existing wooded landscape around B.O.S.C.

Town centre locations for office developments, leisure or cultural uses

Employment and leisure uses at Viking Park with some new homes fronting the High Street

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Creation of new public greenspaces at Hogmoor Inclosure, Bordon Inclosure

and Standford Grange

Existing and new greenspaces connected by the Green Loop footpath

and cycle route

A range of employment locations to replace the 1500 jobs lost when the MoD leave and provide at least one new job per new home

High Street/Camp Road becomes a strategic public transport corridor

Two locations under consideration for the location of the new secondary school or

sports hub

LINDFORD ROAD

FAR

NH

AM R

OAD

CAM

P R

OAD

HIG

H S

TRE

ET

FIRGROVE ROAD

HO

GM

OO

R R

OAD

FOR

EST

ROAD

LIPHOOK ROAD

WALLDOWN ROAD

CONDE WAY

HOLLYBROOK

PAR

K

FOR

EST

RO

AD

CHALET HILL

OAKHANGER ROAD

Bordon Infant & Junior School

S

BUDDS LANE

TATION ROAD

WoolmerTrading Estate Tesco

Local shops

ChaseCommunityHospital

Forest Centre

HO

GM

OO

R R

OAD

WHITEHILL ROAD

Hollywater

HO

LLY

WA

TER

RO

AD

Deadwater

River We

Alexandra Park

Bordon Park

primary school

primary school

primary school

Whitehill Club

Hogmoor InclosureStandford Grange

y

MILL CHASE ROAD

LIPHO

OK ROAD

Lindford

Cemy

STA

ND

FOR

D L

ANE

Standford

STA

ND

FOR

D LAN

E

B

B.O.S.C.

ordonTradingEstate

Weyford Infant& Junior School

Woodlea PrimarySchool

HollywaterPrimary School

Eveley Wood

PET

ERSF

IELD

RO

AD

Whitehill Bordon Opportunity Masterplan

22.01.10

Mixed use town centre core

Employment

Community and education

Commercial leisure

Residential character areas -

Green roots

Green streets

Green views

Buildings for potential retentionwithin development areas

Existing built up areas

Strategic public transport corridor

Public transport hub - connecting with local bus routes

Disused rail corridor safeguarded for potential future use

Green infrastructure -

Green loop town wide recreation routes

Natural open space, parks and recreation areas (SANGS)

Sports and leisure - indoor and outdoor

School pitches

Indicative locations for allotments

Wildlife corridors

Special Protection Areas & Special Areas of Conservation

400m buffer to SPA / SAC

South Downs National Park boundary

(Striped areas indicate a mix of uses)

Core strategy, emerging policy boundaries,

correct at November 2009 -

Existing development boundary

Extended development boundary

Eco-town Policy Zone

0m 100m 500m

N

Key (striped areas indicate a mix of uses)

Mixed use town centre core

Employment

Community and education

Commercial leisure

Residential character areas:

- Green roots

- Green streets

- Green views

Buildings for potential retentionwithin development areas

Existing built up areas

Strategic public transport corridor

Public transport hub - connecting with local bus routes

Disused rail corridor safeguarded for potential future use

Green infrastructure:

- Green loop town wide recreation routes

- Natural and informal open space, parks and recreation areas

- Sports

- School pitches

- Wildlife corridors

- Indicative locations for allotments

- Special Protection Areas & Special Areas of Conservation

- 400m buffer to SPA / SAC

- South Downs National Park boundary

Core strategy, emerging policy boundaries, correct at November 2009:

- Existing development boundary

- Extended development boundary

- Eco-town Policy Zone

Figure 5.1 The framework masterplan proposals plan for Whitehill Bordon

5.6 The masterplan strives to make efficient use of land and resources by increasing densities in central areas, creating walkable neighbourhoods with a critical mass of population to support local facilities and a town centre, supporting connection into the district heat and power network, supporting public transport routes and stops and reducing the need to travel by car.

5.7 The majority of built development is proposed on land currently occupied by MoD built training facilities and hard standing, plus a number of private sites including Viking Park. These will be greened by the introduction of new local green spaces, gardens and wetlands. Some additional built development will take place at the edge of Hogmoor Inclosure to provide a strong frontage to the new through route connecting the development sites together and relieving congestion from the High Street. The woodland around B.O.S.C. will also see some development, of larger homes within the woodland setting, and community ownership of the sports club facilities.

5.8 The need to provide sufficient land for SANGS (to mitigate against potential negative impacts on the nearby SPA/SAC habitats) has ensured that the areas of green space at Hogmoor Inclosure, Standford Grange and Bordon Inclosure are made publicly accessible and form a major recreational resource for the town.

95WHITEHILL BORDON DRAFT FRAMEWORK MASTERPLAN

• A new mixed use town centre with around 30,000 sqm of retail and a range of supporting uses,

• Up to three new primary schools and early years centres and a new children’s centre

• Re-building of Mill Chase Community Technology College on a new site with room for later expansion

• Skills training and further education facilities

• Sites for new commercial leisure facilities

• Around 4000 new homes within identified new residential neighbourhoods and the town centre built to a zero carbon standard

• A public sports hub with leisure centre and pitches,

• Local healthcare and emergency services

• Around 70,000 sqm Eco-business park floorspace and opportunities across the masterplan for the creation of approximately 5500 jobs

• Around 127 hectares of new public greenspaces which provide Suitable Accessible Natural Greenspace (SANGS) to mitigate against human impacts on nearby European protected habitats

• A central public transport hub and modern public transport systems including a safeguarded rail corridor

• Retrofitting of existing homes and businesses to improve energy and water efficiency and reduce utilities bills

• A biomass powered combined heat and power plant (CHP) expanded recycling centre and community ‘swapshop’

Key design features 5.10 The following key spatial features explain the structure and layout of the proposals and the way in which the town as a whole will function in the future:

• A central heart: the new town centre will be located at the geographic heart of the town, linking Prince Philip Barracks to the existing shops at Chalet Hill providing a new focus for the town. Its strategic location will make it within easy walking distance of most residents, and land availability will ensure that a wider selection of retail and facilities can be developed. Visual connections will be made between the landmark buildings at Frisby’s corner and former MoD buildings at Prince Philip Barracks to create a legible centre with a civic character.

• A central public transport hub: a new transport hub in the town centre to facilitate interchange between strategic, local and town wide public transport and be a focus for information on a wide range of sustainable travel choices. The hub will include a highly visible landmark building containing a range of community and real-time travel information and services. It will benefit the town by ensuring that public transport options are accessible, functional and attractive – offering a real alternative to car travel.

• Safeguarded future rail corridor: the approximate route of the former railway line at the edge of Hogmoor Inclosure has been set-aside to allow for a rail link to be potentially reinstated in the future. This will benefit the town by providing

5.9 In summary the masterplan proposes:

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the opportunity to connect into the national rail network and avoid the need for car travel for longer distance journeys and commuting.

• Linear town park: a linear town park linking the location set aside for a future rail station with the heart of the town centre is a key feature in the plan providing a gateway to both the town centre and Hogmoor Inclosure. This will provide an attractive green space at the centre of the town, creating a setting for housing and a legible and pleasant route from the station to the town centre.

• High Street traffic diverted: traffic on the A325 High Street will be diverted onto a new through route designed to accommodate traffic, pedestrians and cyclists happily. The High Street will become a public transport priority route, closed to private vehicles at the town centre. This will allow for much greater pedestrian access between the east and west of the town and reduce the impact that traffic congestion currently has on the centre of town.

• The Green Loop: a major new walking and cycling route looping around the town, connecting the natural green spaces of Hogmoor Inclosure, Deadwater Valley, Bordon Inclosure and Standford Grange with schools, sports facilities and homes. This will encourage healthier lifestyles by providing recreational walks and easy walking routes to key destinations.

• Wildlife corridors: north-south green space corridors where public access will be limited and a range of habitats will be encouraged to flourish. This will help to ensure that the town achieves a net gain in biodiversity.

• Community spine and hubs: town wide secondary education, sports hub and healthcare provision will be concentrated in a spine running east-west connecting the existing and future neighbourhoods. Primary schools and small scale community facilities will be provided within the neighbourhoods creating local community hubs. This will ensure that all homes are close to high quality facilities.

• Dispersed employment: employment uses are spread between three main sites and the town centre and located along public transport routes to encourage easy walking, cycling and bus travel to work. This will provide a range of opportunities within the town for investment, business growth and job creation.

• Characterful neighbourhoods: neighbourhood densities will vary and broadly increased towards the town centre and central transport hub, creating opportunities for a range of distinctive neighbourhood characters: Green Roots, Green Streets and Green Views. The town will benefit from an increase range and quality of housing, with a greater density of population close to central facilities supporting shops and businesses.

• Buffer to European habitats: no residential development within a 400m buffer zone of Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. This will help to avoid cat predation on these important habitats and is a key mitigation measure discussed in the Habitats Regulations Assessment (for more information see chapter 8).

• Retention of landmark buildings: historic MoD landmark buildings including Prince Philip Barracks Sandhurst Block and Sergeants’ Mess, Martinique House, Broxhead House, Amherst House and the former fire station will be retained and found new uses. This will add maturity and character to the development. Public spaces will provide a setting to these buildings, embodying the heritage of Whitehill Bordon and helping to create a strong sense of place.

5.11 The components and design features of the masterplan are explored in more detail in the chapters that follow.

97WHITEHILL BORDON DRAFT FRAMEWORK MASTERPLAN