Appendix 2
Analysis of interviews
Background
• 24 interviews were conducted with 27 interviewees including
councillors, officials, businesses and community groups
• Sought to identify key aspirations and issues to help shape the
agenda for the Community Design Event/for Manydown itself
• Reassuringly encountered significant optimism about what can be
achieved as well as noted some of what people see as likely
barriers and enablers to making the project a success
• This only a party of a rigorous engagement process as we work
towards a comprehensive vision and plan for Manydown
Key issues for respondents
Disruption caused by development
1%
Public realm
Architecture 2%
Cycling
2%
2%
Access to / from new site
3%
Inclusivity
4%
Character of existing place
4%
Other
33%
Education provision
4%
Car parking
5%
Economic opportunity
5%
Health provision
5%
Provision of green
space
7%
Housing choice
14%
Pressure on local
transport infrastructure
9%
Key Issues for respondents
Emerging themes:
• Real housing choice imperative in support of a mixed community
• Comprehensive and robust infrastructure, particularly recognising increased
pressure on roads
• Determination to create a quality place
• Delivering value for current and future citizens of Basingstoke
• Health & wellbeing (and primary health care provision) should be at the heart
of the vision
• Acknowledging significant “fixes” on the site like the railway intersect,
drainage, the Roman Road and the ridge line
• Widespread scepticism regarding car parking provision <1.5 per dwelling
Themes/topics/features that should be addressed in a Vision for Manydown
Environmental quality &
sustainability for the 21st Century
5%
Economic
growth,
quality and
opportunity
6%
Civic life &
citizen
participation
5%
Other
15%
Accessibility and movement
8%
Health & Well-being
14%
Contribution to Basingstoke
“brand”
8%
Type and atmosphere of place
11%
Access to open and green
spaces
9%
Key features
9%
Character of design
10%
Themes/topics/features that should be addressed in the
Vision for Manydown
Emerging themes:
•
Attractive architecture (but not necessarily a given style) and high standards of build quality
•
Rural context, materials and vernacular to be reflected in design and materials
•
Making a positive contribution to Basingstoke’s “brand”
•
Like a market town or village, it should have walkable-neighbourhoods, legibility and a distinct
centre
•
It should embrace and work with existing communities to bring benefits for all
•
Plentiful, open and accessible green spaces complemented by playgrounds and ‘wild’ walks – a
fondness for ‘natural’
•
Should attract business leaders and entrepreneurs, help retain the brightest from Basingstoke and
provide employment opportunities for local people within the Manydown community
•
Good access to and from the area with good public transport provision
Access to open and green spaces
3%
Quality of architecture & urbanism
3%
Main barriers to achieving the Vision
Community
organisations
1%
Protecting natural amenities
3%
Disruption caused by development
4%
Respecting the character of
Basingstoke
4%
Other
29%
Providing local jobs
6%
Attracting the right residents
7%
Community 'buy in'
11%
Housing choice
9%
Political divisions
9%
Access to / from new site
11%
Main Barriers to achieving the vision
Emerging themes:
•
Community and town ‘buy in’ from start to finish
•
Recognising the need to invest in good design and infrastructure at the outset
•
Providing sufficient amounts of affordable housing’; some say too much social
rental housing will deter others form wanting to live there
•
Political support and ambition for and throughout the life of the project
•
Profiteering by all involved – including the councils and the risk of a tooconventional/short-term interpretation of best-value
•
Ensuring that project surpluses are re-invested to enhance the (wider) community
and improve/ protect the environment
•
Political divisions creating indecision or loss of clarity and focus
Main Enablers
Emerging themes:
•
Recognising that Manydown is one part of an expanding whole – a comprehensive plan is needed
•
Quality is key to overcoming concerns – some say ‘prejudices’ - about development
•
Pace of delivery, particularly infrastructure
•
With the Council being the landowner comes a fantastic opportunity to create something of real
quality but only if not ‘greedy’
•
Ability of the councils to choose their development and other partners wisely
•
Councillors being kept fully engaged and informed but not trying to control everything
•
Ensuring communities, business and third party agencies are kept engaged throughout
•
Proper parking provision
Housing that appeals to the
children of Basingstoke’s
indigenous population
Housing choice for older people,
meeting their diverse needs and
potentially freeing up larger houses
for families
Self-build can give a place
character through the
diversity it provides
Housing choice that supports
a mixed community
“We must avoid the
ghettoisation that has
characterised other
Basingstoke developments”
Prescott’s policy of 1.5 parking
spaces per dwelling isn’t working for
us in Basingstoke today
“Manydown is one part of an expanding whole.
”
First class public
transport; not just
buses but trains too
Catering for the
additional pressure
Manydown will
create on roads
Joining up green
corridors to support
habitats as well as
provide wild walks
“We need to take
an integrated
approach,
bringing agencies
together”
“Avoid sprawl
and bland
places”
MANYDOWN
“Architecture can be graceful,
stylish, elegant and uplifting!”
Delivering
at pace
Local retail offer as well as some
“A grade” commercial space
“It should be a high-tech space
with excellent broadband and
incubators for start ups”
Housing supply
as a driver of
economic
growth
Stimulating inclusive and
equitable growth
Should attract business
leaders and entrepreneurs
as well as help retain the
brightest from Basingstoke
Making a
positive
contribution to
Basingstoke’s
“brand”
With the Council being the
landowner comes a fantastic
opportunity to create something of
real quality
Like a market town, it should
have walkable neighbourhoods,
legibility and a distinct centre
“The most innovative
community centres integrate a
healthcare offer, like Bromleyby-Bow”
“We need to
challenge the
perception that
Basingstoke is a
spillover from
London”
Reflect the rural
surroundings in
design and
materials
Determination to create
a quality place
“It should feels
green, brown and
earthy”
Tap into regional
growth sectors as
well as needs of local
employers
Tapping into
Basingstoke’s
rich history
“Quality will be the key to
overcoming prejudices about
development”
“Sport is a good way of
identifying with the
borough”
Providing a GP that is accessible to
adjacent communities
“Community champions”
to share information
about the project
Community & Town
‘buy-in’ to its success
Adaptable
design that
allows for
organic growth
Health & Wellbeing at
the heart the Vision
Who is the
“community” and how
should they be
involved from herein?
Manydown is going
ahead, so what’s the
best it can be?
Access to and from
Manydown is key
Catering for
spiritual wellbeing
A community building
installed from the start,
even if it’s temporary
Future-proofing the
infrastructure we put in
Open and accessible green spaces complemented
by playgrounds and wild walks
Proper cycling
infrastructure, not just
within Manydown but
also connections to
surrounding areas
What is
“affordable” how
much should be
provided?
Comprehensive and
robust infrastructure
Recognise “fixes” on the site, like
the intersect with the railway,
ridgeline and Roman Road
“People walking
creates a visible
vibrancy”
“We don’t want Roman Rd to become
the Berlin Wall, excluding other
communities from the benefits of
Manydown”
“Uniform, lifeless and
tired developments being
built by volume house
builders won’t do!”
Great places attract the highest values, so it’s
worth investing in design and infrastructure
“Councilors should
be kept informed
but shouldn’t micromanage everything”
First class
primary &
secondary
schooling
Delivering value for
current & future
citizens
Ensure that project
surpluses are invested
to enhance the
community and protect
the environment
“This is bigger than
party politics!”
Overcoming the
credibility gap that
follows from
Basingstoke’s poor
track record on design