Issue - items at meetings - Wessex Fields Site Development Strategy

This report is brought before Cabinet in order to determine the next steps in deciding the use of the land at Wessex Fields. It follows a period of public consultation and a public engagement day held on 7 January 2020 where attendees had the opportunity to suggest uses for the land fitting all the essential criteria of Financially Viable, Environmentally Sustainable and Socially Responsible.

The scope of the consultation was specific to the theme of use for the land and not to the existing road scheme. Although this was inevitably discussed at the event the objective was limited to generation of ideas for the land use, not to gauge support for road.

This report summarises the public feedback and proposes a course of action that reflects this whilst securing and safeguarding the future use of the site. The feedback preferred development which accommodates healthcare, research and education themes as well as seeking to include key worker or affordable housing and realise the vision of the Living Lab.

Any future development should incorporate plenty of open access green space to promote wellbeing and wildlife habitats, as well as improved controlled access to the hospital and improved transport links in all forms fitting the essential criteria.

RESOLVED that:-

(a) From the outcome of the consultation, the Cabinet are recommended to progress the three key themes broadly supported by the public:

· Health, Care, Research and Education;

· Affordable or Keyworker Housing;

· Realising the vision of the Living Lab.

(b) Cabinet delegates authority to the Director for Development in consultation with his senior officers to commission soft market testing to develop viable delivery options relating to the preferred use themes. Once completed, this will be reviewed by the Cabinet with an estimate of a report in Autumn 2020.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Leader of the Council

Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Culture

Reason

Adopting the recommendation will demonstrate the Cabinet has listened to the public and will ensure the development of the land delivers an environmentally sound and leading-edge solution, carried out in a manner fitting the essential criteria the Council has identified for the project. The recommendation is a good fit with the following corporate priorities:

a. Sustainable Environment

b. Dynamic Places

c. Connected Communities

d. Fulfilled Lives

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Infrastructure presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were asked to consider the next steps in deciding the use of the land at Wessex Fields, following a period of public consultation.

The Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed Cabinet advising that whilst there were no formal comments from the recent meeting of the Board, that Members had discussed the transportation side of the scheme in detail, and that the Board would like to see the next stage of the scheme including the transportation elements.

A Councillor addressed Cabinet highlighting disappointment that focus continues to be on the road infrastructure rather than the future possibilities of the site.