Fareham: Regeneration plan that will see shopping centre and car park demolished takes a step forward
Residents will soon be able to see the latest designs for a £125m plan that will see a chunk of a town’s shopping centre and multi-storey car park knocked down.
Fareham is in line for a £125m makeover, as the borough council aims to breathe new life into the centre of town.
It has already revealed that it aims to demolish a third of the shopping centre - which has seen some stores such as the former Debenhams unit lie empty for several years - and demolish the multi-storey car park. As part of the plan, a “a pedestrian-friendly north-south boulevard is proposed, with an improved route through the shopping centre to create an arcade”. There will also be a new civic square and improvements made to the Civic Gardens.
A council meeting last night gave the go-ahead to the next phase of planning, which could see up to £2.6m spent in the coming year. The overall cost of the project is put at about £125m.
The library, Job Centre, GP surgery and other NHS buildings behind Fareham Shopping Centre will be found new homes - although these have not yet been confirmed, and there are also plans for the “managed relocation of key retailers”.
At the moment the plan is to refurbish and keep the Civic Offices tower block, as the future of Hampshire’s local government is still up in the air and it may well be needed in the years to come. There is not an obvious new home for staff in the town centre, and a report points out that there would also be an economic hit if workers were to leave the middle opf Fareham.
The public will have the chance to see the plans next month in the former Clarks store in the shopping centre. These sessions will be on Thursday, March 12 from 4pm to 7pm and Saturday, March 14 from 10am to 2pm. There will be new pictures of what the town centre could like like after the work - these images have not yet been released to the public.
Cllr Simon Martin, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “This is a major milestone in our plans to regenerate Fareham town centre. With around £125 million of investment, we are setting out an exciting, achievable vision for the future – reshaping the shopping centre, delivering up to 200 new homes, introducing exceptional public spaces, including a new town square, creating safer routes and improving parking.
“This investment will significantly broaden what Fareham has to offer. It will bring better leisure and recreation opportunities, improved shops, high-quality public spaces and strong, modern community services.
“I want to be absolutely clear that our mission is for the key facilities, including the library and health centre, will remain in the heart of the town centre. As regeneration progresses, some services may move into newer, more modern spaces, but they will continue to be central, accessible and convenient for everyone. Ultimately, this is about creating a town centre that works better for everyone – somewhere people are proud to visit, work in and call home.”
The Liberal Democrat opposition has also welcomed the scheme.
“These are bold plans that reorganise how our town centre works and what it is for,” said group leader Cllr David Hamilton. “More homes, better connections, the right mix of retail and services, and new spaces for community life. That’s the sort of long-term thinking a council prioritising social good — not short-term profit — is best placed to lead.”
There will be more public consultation sessions in the summer, before an outline planning application is submitted.