 |
 |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Public consultation played an important part in the design evolution of Parkgate. A variety of public exhibitions held in Shirley itself provided Shirley Advance with a forum to not only to explain the development but also to obtain the thoughts of local people on important issues and suggestions for things to be included. The feedback received was taken on board and was key to the final plans for the area; which bring together a wide range of local concerns, needs and aspirations. The consultation has resulted in some positive inclusions and changes.
It is important that this development brings real and lasting benefits to the people of Shirley. A Statement of Community Involvement was issued alongside the planning application. A copy of this can be seen by following the link. However, some of the headlines are set out below.
The proposed scheme takes only 1.43 acres of Shirley Park. 96% of the existing park area will be retained and enhanced with a total of £500,000 to be spent on improvements. The local community will be consulted further to have a say as to how this money should be spent; more trees maybe, play facilities, CCTV and lighting, better landscaping, footpaths, dedicated cycle routes and so on.
Concerns about safety in the park and town centre were raised in early consultation. We have subsequently included plans for improved security, with extra lighting and CCTV throughout. Of course, the scheme will inherently improve security with so many different activities going on and the natural surveillance provided by residential occupiers.
Your concerns regarding car parking in Shirley will be resolved by the creation of 600 underground car parking spaces. These will be situated underneath the scheme, similar to Touchwood and The Bullring. This car park will be easy to access and use. It will be well lit and maintained to a high standard. This facility will provide free parking for all visitors for at least three hours and there will be an appropriate amount of disabled and parent & child spaces. Temporary car parking will be provided within Shirley Park during the construction period of the development. This area of land will be fully reinstated upon completion of the scheme.
This scheme is not just about shopping. We recognised your many requests for places to dine or simply relax with a coffee to watch the world go by. There will be a new coffee shop adjacent to the retained Royal British Legion and other bars/restaurants within the additional retail element of the scheme. There will be no nightclubs or late night entertainment venues.
An area for Shopmobility will be located in the basement car park. Public toilet facilities are also included, at surface level between the new main square and Shirley Park so they can be easily used by all visitors to Shirley - not just shoppers. They will, as you might expect, be maintained to a very high standard.
Please click here to download the Statement of Community Involvment (104k PDF)
| “I think the plans for the development look fantastic, Shirley is in desperate need of modernisation! There is only so long you can always were but now its time to keep up with other areas and develop the old to new!!” Emmie D, local resident, December 2005. |