Celebrations as My North Town goes for planning approval
Hazel Warwick Group Development Director for First Wessex and Architect Ken Scaddan handover the planning application to Councillor Francis Williams (on behalf of Rushmoor Borough Council)
After five months’ of extensive public consultation, revisions to the MasterPlan and commercial negotiations, First Wessex Housing Group’s £100 million regeneration scheme for My North Town in Aldershot has been submitted for formal planning with Rushmoor Borough Council.
The application includes a large number of detailed reports and plans that can be viewed by visiting the council’s website www.rushmoor.gov.uk and www.mynorthtown.net. Copies of it will also be in the Council’s reception, Aldershot Library and First Wessex’s office at Gordon Road, Aldershot.
In addition, First Wessex will be holding an exhibition of what the various types of accommodation will look like at the North Town Community Base on 7th, 9th and 12th September 2009.
It is now a 13 week wait for the My North Town Design Team to see if the application is passed by the Council’s Planning Committee. This will give the public time to review the application and make any comments. The target date for this decision is Wednesday 7 October 2009.
Rushmoor Borough Council’s Portfolio holder for Housing, Cllr Francis Williams was there in person to receive the planning application from First Wessex Group Development Director, Hazel Warwick and My North Town architect Kenn Scaddan.
If all goes smoothly, demolition and building work is expected to start in Phase One in May 2010 (this will include replacing the older person’s home, Alma House). The MasterPlan has been divided into six possible phases with the last one expected to complete in 2016/2017.
The proposed timing for the first three phases of the regeneration project is:
Start work on site for Phase One May 2010
Complete Phase One & start Phase Two April 2011
Complete Phase Two & start Phase Three October 2012
The vision of My North Town is to regenerate the North Town area by providing high quality, environmentally sustainable homes and facilities. First Wessex, in partnership with Rushmoor Borough Council, will continue to work closely with local residents and community groups to deliver new homes, job opportunities and community benefits.
As part of the regeneration proposals First Wessex aims to improve the existing shops as well as provide a brand new and much improved North Town Base community facility. The proposals include the provision of additional small shop units to benefit to the local community and help to stimulate and regenerate the shopping facilities on North Lane.
The North Town Base will be a significantly enlarged and improved community facility with dedicated meeting space, rooms for clubs and societies, office and administration as well as the storage in a modern and up-to-date building for a number of users and groups to utilise the facilities at the same time.
The proposals for a new Base and for the shops in North Lane will be in the later phases of the project which will not commence until after 2013. Nearer the time, First Wessex will ensure there are temporary arrangements to enable community groups using the base to continue with minimal inconvenience.
Hazel Warwick, Group Director of Development for First Wessex said:
“First Wessex is immensely proud of the MasterPlan to regenerate the area for the benefit of many generations to come. We are delighted to submit the planning application today to Rushmoor Borough Council. It is a momentous occasion and is the culmination of many months of intense consultation with residents, stakeholders and community groups.
“First Wessex has listened closely to resident views. As a result we have now included a number of additions and changes in our planning application. These additions include: traffic calming measures for Pegasus Avenue; three specially adapted bungalows for assisted living; lifts for all flats not just the higher ones; private gardens for some ground floor flats as well as for all houses; and improved retail and community facilities along North Lane.
“We will be holding a public exhibition to provide details of the homes and design of the elevations in early September at The Base. In addition, our newsletters will continue to inform residents and the wider community of our progress and a Residents’ Consultative Group has been formed with their first meeting on Tuesday 21 July. We will be consulting with this group on a number of issues such as road name changes, community facilities etc. We value continued feedback from North Town residents and the wider community.”
On accepting the application documents on behalf of the Council, Councillor Francis Williams said: “I am delighted to accept the formal planning application for the project known as My North Town. Our planning department will be reviewing all aspects of the details and this is expected to take 13 weeks. First Wessex Housing Group has worked well with the Council and consulted widely with the local community and stakeholders. We hope that the planning application will be accepted and I, like many others, am looking forward to the new North Town and the continued support of the local community.”
A Freephone Enquiry line is still available on 0800 358 0459. In addition there is a My North Town Renewal Project website www.mynorthtown.net for further information on the project.
