COUNCIL-owned land will be transferred to a housing association to allow for more than 200 homes to be built in Winklebury.

A planning application to build 203 sustainable homes, a centre with shop fronts, a pre-school, a medical centre and community facilities in the area was approved by the council in November 2023.

However, land at the former play area in Winklebury Way and land in Carisbrooke Close, owned by the council, is required by Vivid to facilitate the plans.

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A mock-up image of what the regeneration could look likeA mock-up image of what the regeneration could look like

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 10, the council agreed to the transfer of the land which will be used to build 11 new socially rented homes.

Gavin James, cabinet member for finance and property, said that although there are a number of parcels of land owned by the council in the area, the two at Carisbrooke Close and Winklebury Way are the most 'significant'.

He explained that the land at the former play area would be used to create a medical centre, which council leader Paul Harvey called 'absolutely critical'.

He continued: "The fact that people have to get a bus to the town centre, and then to Popley to access a medical surgery is ridiculous.

"The people of Winklebury deserve a surgery."

Whilst residents will lose access to the park at Winklebury Way, cabinet member for residents' services and housing, Laura James, reassured residents that they will have access to a new, larger, park with facilities that will be 'second to none'.

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Cllr Gavin James continued: "The decision we are looking to make as a cabinet is to agree that we hand those parcels over to Vivid Housing for the redevelopment project.

"Without this [the land] the project isn't viable. It's either that scheme that is being approved, with the land added to it, or the regeneration doesn't happen."

Cllr Andy McCormick raised concerns about the proposals, saying that residents in Winklebury are 'extremely upset at an inadequate proposal that doesn't meet their needs'.

In response, Cllr James said: "Adding more to the scheme needs more money to be added to the scheme which can't happen. It's a balance of getting the right things.

"We'd love to have a lot more stuff but we do need to get this scheme up and running, it can't wait forever."