New Forest District Council seeks residents’ views on regeneration of Totton

RESIDENTS will be asked for their input to create a regeneration masterplan for a New Forest town centre.

As reported in the A&T, the district council announced in 2022 the project would focus on transforming Totton into a modern market town with a bold approach to architecture and green credentials.

It also wants to improve access and connectivity, transforming underused brownfield sites and creating better public spaces.

The council says progress has been made over the past two years, including the formation of the Totton Partnership, the funding of a number of small-scale projects, and now the appointment of consultants to prepare a masterplan for the town centre.

NFDC’s cabinet member for economy and planning, Cllr Derek Tipp, said: “The Totton Town Centre Framework Masterplan aims to co-design an improved, vibrant town centre in collaboration with the local community and a team of experts.

"Ultimately the project seeks to support Totton to better fulfil its role as an attractive centre for the Waterside and its communities, benefiting from town and country characteristics and drawing upon relationships with the wider New Forest."

The project will be supported by AR Urbanism and Urban Delivery to address project viability and deliverability, and Feria Urbanism, which will lead community engagement efforts to ensure local voices are at the heart of the proposals.

The next stage will see the setting up of a panel of local residents to provide feedback and guidance on emerging ideas. Details on how to apply for panel membership will be available shortly, says the council.