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Waterlooville Town Centre Masterplan

Bringing Colour to Waterlooville

We’re excited to be working with Art Up CIC to bring vibrant street art to Waterlooville town centre this summer. This project is happening because of your feedback — during the early stages of the Masterplan, you told us the town centre needed more colour and visual appeal.

As part of this work, and alongside wider public realm improvements, we recently invited you to vote on your preferred street art style.

The engagement has now closed.

You can see the final number of votes for each style below.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part — your input is shaping the future of Waterlooville. Stay tuned for updates on the next steps!

Your chance to shape the final design of the Waterlooville Masterplan!

Have your say on the Waterlooville Town Centre SPD or Supplementary Planning Document by clicking on the below button.

This proposed SPD captures the feedback gathered throughout the last 18 months and sets out a vision for the future of Waterlooville.

The next step is the formal adoption of the SPD, which will allow this Masterplan to meaningfully inform development and investment decisions going forward.

Find out more about the SPD Consultation and take the survey

For more information on the previous stages of the Masterplan engagement, click on the below tabs

Keeping up to date

Click here to sign up to our e-newsletter to keep up to date about Waterlooville Town Centre and more.

Help

If you experience any issues using this site, or have any questions, please contact insight@havant.gov.uk.

Phases

Phases overview

Phase One - Community-led Walking Tours

Phase Two - Festival of Ideas

Phase Three - Gallery and Exhibition

Public Realm Improvements

Waterlooville Town Centre Public Art

Phase One - Community-led Walking Tours

22 November 2023 - 3 January 2024

If you were not able to join a walking tour or if you have further feedback you wish to provide, here is your opportunity - please submit your ideas to inform the next phase of the project.

The second phase of engagement for the Waterlooville Town Centre Masterplan project will see residents, workers and businesses invited to a multi-day 'Festival of Ideas' event in January 2024. This will form a series of collaborative and interactive sessions that will consider the key themes presented in Waterlooville and begin to shape the design of the Masterplan.

To add your views to this event, we want to hear from you on the following:

What memories do you have of Waterlooville town centre?
Please share a story with us about what the town centre means to you
Which parts of the town centre do you think work well right now, and need to be protected?
Which parts of the town centre need changes and improvements, and why?

If you would like to submit your ideas on this site, please use the green "Submit your idea" button at the top right corner of this page. Please submit as many ideas as you wish.

Please note that other participants on this site will be able to view your ideas and/or attachments once you submit them.

You can also comment on other posts, or agree / disagree with other comments. These will be listed at the bottom of this page under the "Ideas" heading.

30 ideas

Stacey Freeborn2 years ago

Stacey Freeborn2 years ago A cocktail bar for weekend adult enjoyment or themed bars to encourage more night life rather than just pubs which are getting stale, and we need a mix up!New Look, or a high street retailer like Primark that's not in the immediate area. Already got Superdrug and Boots but perhaps a Body Shop.Clarks shoes would be helpful.Fun-wise something modern like an escape room or something different as it would be great to have a swimming pool with flumes but not sure on the space. Only decent swimming pool with flumes is up in Bracknell or Poole so would really drive revenue and is appropriate for all ages.

Julian Loveman 2 years ago Rather than thinking what's wrong with the town centre we need to think about why retail parks are so successful Retail parks have free parking, the shops are purpose built, accessibility for people with disabilities is easy and the shops are a good range which meet most peoples needs. I also agree with others on here who say look to town centres that do well for inspiration. I recently visited Fleet and the High Street with the road still running through it and convenient parking was thriving. Interestingly the hideous 1970s style shopping mall was pretty barren. Shades of Wellington way,There are too many shops in Waterlooville for our modern existence. At the same time there is a housing crisis in this area. If the town centre could be shrunk down by at least 50 percent then this would free up potential housing. The easy win should be Wellington way but the new owner is under the impression that they will rent the shops. What a waste of opportunity and money that is. This should not be given permission as it will still just be adding to the impoverished look of the town. But going further the two tails of the strip have got shops, it's the the middle which is awful. If there could be assistance and encouragement for these successful shops to condense up together then bingo. Then as well as more housing we could have some green spaces We're not going to attract people to town centres like Waterlooville without some serious changes and following decades of poor town planning and being the poor relation to Havant (which is hardly thriving itself) unfortunately I find it hard to believe HBC have the courage and ambition that it needs.In addition this consultation is not accessible, the low numbers on here is shocking. What is the professional consultancy running this consultation about widening access to it other than a few walk rounds which unless you're in the know were invisible. I've not seen any real advertisement of this consultation, I found it by accident. they should be postering and door knocking for the amount of money they are getting. Many people who do still use the local shops are likely digitally excluded.

Sheila Wendes2 years ago To begin - I have only discovered any plans at all for Waterlooville town centre in Your Borough magazine. We need free parking. We need more specialist shops like the excellent greengrocers - Waterlooville Fruiterers. Local fruit and veg, honey, eggs - all top quality. Trouble is, picking your way across litter and empty shops to get there. We need some space for a play area or playground, indoors or out. A park would be ideal but probably unlikely.It would be lovely to lift the atmosphere with a gallery of some sort. Also a link between the town and big outlets which is less squalid than the tired old mural covered underpass would help. The big stores are there now and might as well be integrated despite their drawing customers away from the centre.Please - no appalling naff public sculpture like Havant or Fareham.

Steve Dixon2 years ago Some examples to consider:- Alton; Alresford; Emsworth; Petersfield; Bishops Waltham; Locks Heath; Whiteley; Botley; Farnham; Arundel; Liphook; Godalming.Plentiful; and ideally free parking, is essential.Keep the major shopping retail area where it is, along the Hambledon Rd; leaving the town centre to become a characterful mix of eating and drinking establishments (independents like No.73 London Rd, but also attract some of the major brands too), combined with a good mix of small independent retailers. Retaining at least one Bank is also important.Tidy up the facades and pavements to add character - to lose the glum appearance now. Create some green areas, with seating and trees.Create a programme of events on key dates (public holidays etc) to attract footfall. Maybe have a monthly food market.The former Waitrose building needs to be something other than flats, or yet another budget supermarket. Turn it into a small cinema; or some other form of popular leisure facility; or an indoor market; a food court, or mini-shopping mall.With all the new residential development in the area in recent years, there should be enough local demand to feed the town centre - provided what's there is a big enough draw and a pleasant place to be. If it is, people from further afield will also come to visit occasionally, as they do in the case of the other towns I've listed above, if my own experience is anything to go by.

Mark Beetlestone2 years ago As well documented, there has been a big exodus of retailers closing their shops in Waterlooville.I think we need to think creatively, rather than bleat on "put some new shops there". If we get new tenants in, encourage new independents to set up shop, we are not tackling the root cause of issues (parking, infrastructure, landscape, accessibility, rates). We had shops there before, and they all closed. That didn't work.The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. Simply saying "put a Primark in Waterlooville" is addressing the symptoms, not the problem.

Mark Beetlestone2 years ago I'm not sure this will come across well to the majority of people who seem to enjoy banging on about Waterlooville's cultural heritage, but here we go. Waterlooville has very little history. There is not much of a story. And the story which exists, is probably a rehash of the truth. We aren't home to a famous battle, or castle, or landmark. Waterlooville has historically been a small place that people stopped at whilst travelling. Coaching houses and farmland. Not much more. Why does there seem to be an unchallenged rhetoric around "keeping the history alive" when there's not much to keep alive? I think there's a real risk that by being blinkered by trying to preserve something fairly average and ordinary, your plans become average and ordinary. My view is a bold one, but we should be looking to put Waterlooville in the map for something. Make it a destination, not somewhere you drive past. To do this, you need to get past the fact that Waterlooville town centre just isn't that nice. I can't currently pick a place that I'd like to sit outside and enjoy a coffee. The buildings are run down, the floor is knackered and there is no greenery. It's not attractive. These are fundamental.My way of improving things long term might be simple on paper, but all good ideas are... 1. Bulldoze the entire town centre which is in scope for review2. Put up modern, eco friendly pre-fabbed shops, or a covered market. 3. Install a large, green play park - similar to what they have in Midhurst. 4. Plant some trees

Alexander Hall 2 years ago

ILZA RUDGLEY2 years ago PLease give up the idea about making small shops in Wellington Way - it's too expensive in rates etc for a small business to survive anymore, unless a service industry premises in this changing economic climate with on-line purchasing, superstores..... Even the big names are struggling. Provide enough parking , 2 spaces per flat, though. (Use the big car park by Iceland for this purpose?) and the infra structure to cope with increased population in area. This will keep the town centre alive and thriving, The cafes and service shops are good for the area too... Subsidise their rent and rates.

Caroline Wheatley2 years ago

chris davenport2 years ago Not a suggestion but a critique of the area. It surely could not have been a surprise that the town center would become less attractive when the other shopping area came in to being. You have everything at your fingertips with Sainsbury's Marks and Spencer's, clothing stores ,furniture shops, pet shops ,Halfords and virtually everything to hand with free parking. The only thing's missing would be a chemist and probably a Post Office / Bank.

Louis Mac Donald 2 years ago Firstly, I shall leave it to others to express a view on the range, diversity and necessity of the shops available presently and those desired. I believe your picture of Wellington Way illustrates my opinion concisely, as it displays exactly what the problem is, i.e. It looks like a 1960's planned and built shopping parade, as sadly does the London Road and sadly everywhere else, with only the latest addition of the walkway shops between the former Waiterose to Wilko sites. I am not suggeting that everything gets flattened and you start again, and not just on issues of incurred costs and timescale, rather I believe a talented architec could do wonders simply by creating a modern and varied range of frontages for the buildings throughout the whole Waterlooville site. I would also suggest that you consider doing something positive to ideally prevent, or at the very least lessen the vicious winter winds that sweep through the alleyways from the Council car park to London Road. Finally, it is my genuine belief that Waterlooville should never been left to deterioate to this degree, where it is now at a crisispoint, if not actually terminal. To entice shopkeepers, both large and small, I would argue that some serious, and for the Council, unpleasant but necessary changes must be made, starting with Parking Charges. Sorry but they will have to go, completely and speedily. As an illustration, even the briefest look at the out of town centre at the bottom of the hill shows full to overflowing car parks, and a varied range of shops. Also Sainsbury has FREE parking, which always seem busy when I shopped there. As I am unaware of how much finance is available to the Council, I have limited my suggestions to the basics, i.e. a general upgrade of the Waterlooville shops, and if the media is to be believed, Business Rates are also a major concern to potential businesses, both large and small, as I said unpleasant choices.

Susan Parker2 years ago I had cause to visit Portsmouth Cascades this afternoon and came across a repair cafe and library of things. Chatting to one of the people running this arrangement she said they were in the process of also setting up a 'toy swapshop' for the new year and that the landlords of Cascades had given them use of the unit FoC. It was a really vibrant space, with repair tables in the window - because people like repair shop on TV and want to see how repairs are done. Today they had a watchmaker present. The library of things also has an online presence.Another unit in Cascades was being used for community art work - display and sales. At the weekend we visited the craft place in Emsworth - at the old postoffice. I was blown away by the local talent on show, and came away today thinking could a unit be used to showcase these arts too?My final idea is, I think, already in the planners heads - parks/parklets/ green spaces for community use. The days of big precincts are gone - there isn't the footfall to warrant them... so remimagine the space. Please!

Nigel Parish2 years ago

Tracey Green 2 years ago Waterlooville needs establishments like a Repair Cafe, a permanent shop, maybe incorporating a cafe, selling food too and a community hub , maybe moving the library more centrally or extending it to incorporate a community bit with craft days and welcome to all. And make it a volunteering hub like they have in Portsmouth library Southsea library seems to thrive in palmerston Road as it has a shop selling locally made gifts and a cafe.

Judy Grant2 years ago

Sue Doxat2 years ago

sylvia bailey2 years ago

Samantha Beddoe2 years ago

Samantha Beddoe2 years ago Reduce the business rates on the retail units to encourage new businesses to trade.There are so many empty shops, it will discourage businesses to start in Waterlooville as they will have no confidence in the footfall.Less coffee shops, barbers and charity shops.We need more diversity of shops.How can you encourage the 'big names' to return to Waterlooville?1 hour free parking in all surrounding car parks. 30 minutes is insufficient to do any shopping. Often need more than 30 minutes to queue in the remaining banks.There is nothing enticing in Waterlooville at the moment, it has been allowed to die.What are other towns that are thriving doing right? We need to mirror that

Jason Holmes 2 years ago Some good ideas - my things is that we have nothing here to draw people in that they couldn't go elsewhere for.could we perhaps offer a row of craft and independent shops where Iceland is/was or could be a nicely decorated little walkway into the main town centre.a play cafe for young families who'd draw some people in I think.also some bars and restaurants for the evening - we should aim to create a space that can function all through the day and evening.I'd also personally love some kind of community space with events, maybe it has a rock climbing wall, soft play, an educational space for speakers etc. Dukes walk parking could benefit from contactless payment - hardly anyone has cash now - same for car back behind London road by wicks.take away barriers/reasons not to go into town, perhaps the businesses that this might attract can refund peoples parking with money spent in them ?

Clive Skeates2 years ago

Sean Davis2 years ago

Mike Owens2 years ago

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Past events

Waterlooville Masterplan Gallery and Exhibition
Event date: March 14th, 2024 at 10:00 to March 16th, 2024 at 17:00.
95 London Road
1 registrant
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Festival of Ideas
Event date: January 22nd, 2024 at 18:00 to January 25th, 2024 at 21:00.
95 London Road
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 11th, 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 11th, 2023 from 11:30 to 12:30.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 11th, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 9th, 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 9th, 2023 from 11:30 to 12:30.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 9th, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (Digital)
Event date: December 5th, 2023 from 19:30 to 21:00.
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Community-led Walking Tour (Digital)
Event date: December 4th, 2023 from 19:30 to 21:00.
Read more
Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 4th, 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
Read more
Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 4th, 2023 from 11:30 to 12:30.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
Read more
Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 4th, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 1st, 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Community-led Walking Tour (In-person)
Event date: December 1st, 2023 from 11:30 to 12:30.
Waterlooville PO7 7DT
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Waterlooville Town Centre Masterplan

Your chance to shape the final design of the Waterlooville Masterplan!

Phase One - Community-led walking tours

Phase Two - Festival of Ideas

Phase Three - Gallery and Exhibition

Keeping up to date

Help

Phases

Phase One - Community-led Walking Tours

30 ideas

Great idea for Waterlooville Town Centre

Ideas for Waterlooville Town Centre

Boldness needed

Celebrating the best

Learn from similar sized towns elsewhere, that are successful and thriving.

Shops, and why we need to rethink them

Views about the town's history and how that might affect development

Play park for young families

accomodation - shop balance

Independent sellers

A critique of Waterlooville.

Appearance and pleasurable experince of a visit to Waterlooville Town Centre

Community spaces

Free parking

Ideas for Waterlooville regeneration

Butcher, fresh fruit/veg, proper restaurant

Keep any plans as natural as possible

Better variety of business

Convert some retail into NHS Dentists and Doctor's Surgeries

Reduce the business rates on the retail units to encourage new businesses

Unique selling point

Put the London Road back through the town