Romsey and North Baddesley, Hampshire, England

Project Type: Urban Extension and Masterplan

© The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment

With a growing demand for housing and the Government’s allocation of 3,100 homes in the Southern Text Valley by 2026, the Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) must find places to grow its towns. In the TVBC’s Core Strategy, the areas next to the town of Romsey and the village of North Baddesley were identified as potential places to locate new homes. The sites, Whitenap and Hoe Lane are both part of the Ashfield Estate, and the TVBC called upon the Estate and other landowners to consider sites for potential housing growth. The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment was subsequently asked by the Ashfield Estate to engage with stakeholders in an Enquiry by Design (EbD) to create a Masterplan for both sites. The EbD process was employed to ensure that should future development occur at Whitenap and Hoe Lane, it be of the highest quality, and contribute to the overall quality of life in Romsey and North Baddesely.

The Test Valley’s Core Strategy has set out planning guidance for the selected sites. Whitenap is required to deliver 1,600 dwellings, retail and employment space and at Hoe Lane 400 homes should be provided. The Foundation’s Masterplans accommodate these requirements by designing in a variety of housing types and providing neighbourhood centres where local shops and businesses are accessible by foot. By designing with the principles of sustainable and traditional town planning, projected growth is provided for and appropriately scaled extensions will help Romsey and North Baddesley grow sensibly.

During a week long Enquiry by Design workshop held in November 2008, the Prince’s Foundation team with the Soil Association, Scott Wilson Engineers, the landowner, local authority, community groups and residents, all collaboratively developed a vision and masterplans for the new neighbuorhoods. In an innovative step, the EbD recommended that urban development be managed in tandem with a food production strategy across the Ashfield Estate to provide space for people to grow local food and to support commercial sales of local produce. This highlights awareness that climate change will mean an increased need to reduce our “food miles” and enjoy more locally sourced food. Developing housing in harmony with agriculture production will be critical to creating sustainable communities of the future.

Download the Whitenap and Hoe Lane EbD Final Presenation   [6.4Mb]

Highlights from the Enquiry by Design process at Whitenap & Hoe Lane EbD, Romsey and North Baddesley, November 2008