Churchfields

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Current Activity
Background
Vision Objective
Proposals
Rationale

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Current Activity

The Vision’s objectives for Churchfields are incorporated within the South Wiltshire Core Strategy, which was formally adopted at Full Council on 7 February 2012. The adoption of the Core Strategy has created a firm policy context for the regeneration of Churchfields and a platform for the work of the Vision into the future.

In 2010 / 2011, the Vision consulted with many businesses on the Churchfields Estate through face-to-face interviews to understand the issues and challenges that these businesses face. Along-side this and assisted by funding from the government, Wiltshire Council and Salisbury Vision undertook initial work to assess key development issues at the site and to help understand the challenges that must be addressed to deliver the Core Strategy objectives. This initial work identified the scope for phased regeneration at the Estate and highlighted the need for more detailed analysis to consider the specifics of delivering this both in terms of on-site and off-site factors.

The Vision in partnership with Wiltshire Council and the Homes & Communities Agency will be taking this work forward in the spring and summer of 2012.

Background

At 33 hectares, the Churchfields Industrial Estate is the largest employment site in south Wiltshire. An examination of the estate in 2010 estimated that it is home to approximately 190 companies employing around 4,500 people and together they have a combined annual turnover of £600 million. The estate, located within 1km of Salisbury city centre has developed over the past 30 years into the most important employment centre in the district.

The ad hoc development of the site, albeit within planning policy and guidelines, has led to a number of issues, which over recent years have increasingly been the cause of some concern to Salisbury District Council, the South Wiltshire Economic Partnership (SWEP) and to other representatives of business in south Wiltshire.

The types of business present on the estate is varied and their use often conflicting. The basic infrastructure of the estate is in a poor condition. Whilst there are large areas of buildings in good or average condition, there are several pockets of poor and dilapidated property which tend to have been built in or pre-1970s.

Access to the estate and to many of the individual businesses, is difficult - particularly for HGVs. The only HGV accessible route to the estate runs through part of the city centre. There are no public transport routes serving the estate; 73% of employees and visitors to the estate arrive by car and it is estimated that over 560 cars are parked on the estate roads every day.

The site is bounded by the River Nadder on three sides and the railway line on the fourth. Relocating the businesses that generate the HGV traffic to alternative locations near the city centre and redeveloping the estate for alternative use is a priority.

Vision Objective:

Relocate inappropriate businesses (primarily those generating HGV traffic movements) to alternative locations close to the city and redevelop the site as a residential mixed use scheme which includes offices and a hotel/conference centre

Proposals:

The original proposals for Churchfields within the Salisbury Vision included the following objectives

Relocate the businesses remaining on Churchfields to the westernmost third of the site
Redevelop the remaining two thirds of the site as a residential-led mixed use scheme which includes a hotel/conference centre
Include a major green public space and water area/s possibly with a kiosk/refreshment provision to serve local demand; this should be a point of architectural focus and increase vitality
Provide a viewing corridor to the Cathedral
Create pedestrian access to Harnham, to the Town Path and to the city centre
Include an eco-housing and/or an affordable housing development
Development should be divided into blocks that allow frequent visual, pedestrian and servicing connections particularly to Churchfields Road, the water meadows, Town Path and Harnham
Provide at least two green links from the east to the west sides of the River Nadder to contribute towards the environmental and ecological aspirations of the Vision
Locate key buildings around the public spaces or at the end of key vistas and include higher buildings close to the station creating the opportunity for higher densities around the public transport interchange
The use of grey water recycling, solar power generation, Combined Heat and Power units and other renewable energy sources across at least 60% of buildings within the site should be considered a priority
Areas of significant planting particularly to the south around the River Nadder should be retained

These objectives helped to inform the inclusion of the site within the South Wiltshire Core Strategy, and establish a policy context for the Vision’s goals for this site.

Rationale:

To relocate inappropriately sited business and remove associated HGV traffic from the city centre
To develop a new area that meets housing demand and provides the opportunity to meet the requirements of office employers and other growing economic sectors
To make better use of the site by providing new living, working and leisure opportunities which capitalise on its outlook and views to the Cathedral, and its proximity to the railway station
To provide much needed additional hotel and conference facilities
To deliver more affordable housing close to the city centre
To contribute to other Vision projects by providing finance through capital receipt and planning gain