Effort launched to help transform Waterlooville town centre into new 'thriving' shopping hub

Flick Drummond, Meon Valley MP, has united with architects and local councillors to help craft a new vision to regenerate Waterlooville town centre.

The Tory MP has been tasked with putting together an action plan to breathe new life into the shopping precinct.

The effort is still in its infancy but campaigners are hopeful they will be able to secure cash to progress it forward and turn it from ‘pie in the sky’ hopes to a fully-fledged reality.

Mrs Drummond said: ‘Finding a way to regenerate Waterlooville is one of my key priorities and I was very impressed with the architects’ imagination as they presented Waterlooville as a town on a hill with views to the countryside all around it.

‘There is undoubtedly potential to create a new thriving hub to serve a growing population with the new and future developments to the west of the existing town centre.’

Councillors joined Mrs Drummond in a meeting with Anthony Brewer and Charles Peeler from architects Seamless Design and Guy Harris and Charles Graham from Rolfe Judd, a London architect practice.

During the one-hour discussion, held at Waterlooville Community Centre this month, experts revealed how they could regenerate the town centre, with quarters for retail, health, leisure, culture and residential development.

Waterloo ward Councillor Gwen Robinson was among the politicians invited to the presentation and said this was a chance for leaders to ‘dip their toe in the water’ in proposals to develop the town.

She said: ‘We have to reach for the stars and look at how we can achieve that vision. We’re all realists and know that this is a very difficult time.

‘But I don’t think people realise what Waterlooville can offer. Its potential is massive. It’s a really lovely place to live.

‘I love Waterlooville and want people to come and invest here. We’re well aware that the high street is struggling so we want to do everything possible to bring it back to life.’

Mrs Drummond added that Havant Borough Council ‘was keen to see regeneration’ of the town’s centre, which is part of its local plan up to 2036.

‘However, this is a long-term project needing many components for it to become a reality. It will need funding, a strategic vision and solutions to land ownership before any spades can be put in the ground,’ she said.

Mrs Drummond has since written to Anne-Marie Mountifield, chief executive of Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to ask for financial support for further research and design work.

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