EHDC W&B1

Part d - Chapter twelve - site allocations W&B1 – Whitehill & Bordon Town Centre Intensification LAA References Site Size (Ha) Existing Use Proposed Future Use Proposed Number of Homes

WHI-016, WHI-017 10.8 ha Leisure, commercial and vacant land Mixed – leisure, commercial, office, residential 317 additional homes

Site Description The site is located in central Whitehill & Bordon and comprises land that has been or is planned for redevelopment in accordance the mixed-use hybrid planning consent for regenerating the former Bordon Garrison. It includes The Shed development (which features commercial uses including food & drink businesses), areas of public open space and the Whitehill & Bordon Leisure Centre. It is in close proximity to local primary and secondary schools that are located to the north-west, and adjoins a place of worship (The Sacred Heart Church) that is located to the east. There are residential properties to the north, east and west along Budds Lane, High Street and Centurion Way. The site is bisected by Havanah Way. It includes significant buildings that formed part of the Bordon Garrison, such as the Sandhurst block at Prince Philip Barracks, and cleared land that is inaccessible to the public. It also provides areas of car parking that support The Shed and the leisure centre. Whilst most of the land is occupied by buildings, infrastructure or derelict land, the public open space to the east of the The Shed includes natural landscaping and trees. There are individual trees along the site’s boundaries and a notable concentration of trees to the east of the site, in the environs of The Sacred Heart Church and as part of the Guadaloupe Car Park, as well as trees and greenspace to the south and southwest. Land slopes gently from the south to the north, with the highest point in northeast areas of the site, at the corner of Budds Lane and High Street.

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W&B1 – Whitehill & Bordon Town Centre Intensification List of constraints & opportunities • •

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Biodiversity: recreational impacts on the Wealden Heaths European SPA & SAC sites would need to be appropriately mitigated.

Existing uses & on-going regeneration: recent development in this area associated with the hybrid planning consent (ref: 55587/001) is to remain and presents a design constraint/opportunity, in terms of the physical built form, overall legibility (i.e. wayfinding to, from and within the site) and public accessibility.

Built form and townscape: development adjoining the site is often two-storey, with maximum building heights within the site and to the north-west being three-storey. Rising land within the site could also accentuate the impacts of building heights and massings on the local townscape, public spaces and adjoining areas.

Transport: public transport serving Whitehill & Bordon is considered to be insufficient whilst additional housing, services and facilities on site will increase travel demands and parking requirements.

Transport: additional commercial and community uses in this location has the potential to increase accessibility to services and facilities by walking and cycling modes within central Whitehill & Bordon.

Green infrastructure: trees within and adjoining the site include mature specimens that could provide the basis of a framework for new landscaping to support wildlife.

Flood risk: there are small areas of surface water flood risks in both eastern and western parts of the site.

Minerals: as with all parts of the Whitehill & Bordon regeneration area, the site forms part of land that has been safeguarded for minerals extraction (soft sand/silica sand).

Built heritage: the site includes buildings that are of local heritage value, providing a valuable and recognisable link to its previous military use.

Summary of Reasons for Inclusion Planning permission for a new town centre has been permitted on this site, with elements having been delivered through the development of a new leisure centre, The Shed and a dedicated performance space (The Cube). However, there is scope – and the commitment to deliver – a greater range and number of local facilities. Additional residential development would be sustainably located, close to the services and facilities and within walking and cycling distance of natural greenspace. The site scores above average in the Local Planning Authority’s Accessibility Study. Impacts on local townscapes could be mitigated by appropriate building design, whilst the layout of new uses could be designed to respect and enhance the setting of existing buildings. Existing green infrastructure could be augmented to strengthen local green networks for wildlife, mitigate the ‘urban heat island’ effect and offer sustainable drainage solutions. Potential impacts on the Wealden Heaths Phase II SPA could be mitigated by new SANG, or existing facilities (depending on their capacity). Parking and public transport options would need to be carefully considered in accordance with Local Plan policies. Prior extraction of mineral deposits could be undertaken to avoid the unnecessary sterilisation of resources.

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