Rowner Renewal Partnership Progress

You may be aware from recent reports in The News and from within the community that the Rowner Renewal Partnership is starting a regeneration project for the estate. We will be looking at the quality and condition of the residential and other buildings, the shopping and leisure facilities, design of open spaces and safety, the transport infrastructure and employment opportunities. The project will address, in a comprehensive way, the main problems that exist today. Our aim is to achieve a long term solution to provide the high quality homes, facilities and environment that people want to live in.

Residents, businesses and community groups are already starting to give us their views and we will be able to fully involve you in further developing our plans for the estate. We are nearly at that stage but it has taken longer than we thought to complete the legal agreements that will enable the members of the Partnership to work together.

In the meantime, we understand that people locally are concerned about delays and want to be able to plan for the future. Gosport Borough and Hampshire County Councillors and community groups are concerned that you have as much information as possible now before you make any decisions. We therefore felt the need to write to you directly to update you on our progress, outline what we believe we are able to do and explain how you can get involved.

We hope that you can be patient for just a little while longer – although we cannot be specific on a starting date, please be assured that we are doing everything possible to bring the proposals to you first. In the meantime, if you are worried and want to speak to us then please phone the Rowner Enquiry Line on 08450 343317.

We hope that when we can involve you, you will be impressed at the scale of the proposals.

• Our aim is to provide a quality urban environment that is fit for 21st century living.
• To achieve a long term solution, for future generations, we believe the refurbishment of outdated buildings, facilities and open spaces will not provide the high quality, environmentally sustainable homes and facilities that the community needs.
• Redevelopment, at this stage, is likely to mainly focus on the blocks of flats, the shopping precinct and surrounding areas.

Of course, any demolition will disappoint some people within the community but we’re sure you will agree that action is required. We also understand that this will cause disruption to those directly affected.

Our aim is that those who want to stay on the estate will be able to do so, those who do not, will be offered re-housing elsewhere in the borough and existing owner-occupiers can remain in their community with their equity protected.

• Our consultation process will ensure that anyone directly affected by the proposals will be invited to personal meetings with Portsmouth Housing Association and Gosport Borough Council staff. You will know if you are directly affected because we will send you a letter telling you so.
• At the one-to-one meetings, the Partnership will be able to identify who owns what property and you will be able to tell us your needs for new accommodation.
• Residents not directly affected will also have the opportunity to view the proposals at various sites in the local area and there will be opportunities to tell us your views.

How you can be involved:

Architects who will be designing the scheme will talk to residents, community groups and children within local schools asking you what you want for the area and where you want it. They will be able to show you designs of homes they have built in the past, typical street scenes and ask you what you think.

• When the proposals are launched, the architects will start a series of meetings and focus groups with residents and community groups. This will build up to a Community Planning Weekend where everyone will have a chance to have their say. Further community meetings will be held to focus on specific issues that arise as the Masterplan for the area develops.
• After this the architects will report back to the community with new proposals based on residents’ and community opinions.
• The final Masterplan will be submitted as part of a planning application to Gosport Borough
  Council, probably later in the Autumn.

A fresh approach

With you behind us, we believe that we can genuinely make a real difference to the area – our mission is to improve, to add value and to restore pride in Rowner. With your help we know we can do this.

We thank you for your patience and please be assured of our commitment to Rowner and its
regeneration. We look forward to your involvement in the project.