By Nicholas Craig-Harvey and Richard Cotton

ALTHOUGH Winchester is one of most desirable places to live in the country, there is a real risk that, without significant commercial investment, its economy will fall into decline. This trend will only be reversed by the Council changing its approach.

As a starting point we propose the creation of an over-arching plan for the development of Winchester over the next 20 years. It would be based on more joined-up thinking and closer collaboration with local stakeholders than has been shown in the past. If it succeeds, then our vision could become a blueprint for the cathedral city in the 21st century.

The economy is fragile mainly because the city has a reputation amongst investors and commercial developers of being a difficult place for doing business. As a result, more than 50 per cent of jobs are in the relatively low-paid public sector and there is little suitable office space for new or expanding businesses. These contribute to the bizarre situation where every day 20,000 people commute into the city to work, mainly because they cannot afford to live here, and 7,000 people commute out from the city.

The main aim of this proposal is to harness the considerable resources in the area to create a comprehensive plan for developing Winchester so that it supports a thriving community and a growing economy. The existence of large strategic development sites in the centre and outskirts should be seen as a tremendous opportunity for imaginative investment and development.

This exercise has to be managed within a defined timetable by professional planners commissioned by the council. All stakeholders would be involved including residents, businesses, developers, heritage bodies, voluntary organisations and the university.

The plan would involve more joined up thinking that looks at how the main issues relate to each other. It is no good just focusing on jobs if there is nowhere suitable for the workforce to live, or encouraging retail investment if there is nowhere for shoppers to park. A sustainable community needs a range of accommodation, including properties to rent and affordable units, and a transport policy taking into account both the need for visitors and the protection of the environment.

The benefit of an over-arching 20-year plan is that it encourages long-term thinking and, as council funding declines, it will attract investors by showing that the council is committed to rebuilding the local economy. On its own land, the council can use a wider set of criteria when judging whether a development is viable than merely its short-term financial returns

Many other cities have successfully taken this route – why not Winchester?

We now have a choice: either accept that we will become a commercial backwater with an economy overly reliant on the public sector, catering and commuters; or plan how we can work together on developing Winchester in a way that maximises the benefits of our heritage, setting and university and creates a dynamic, sustainable, young society with more high-quality jobs in new and expanding businesses. Which do you want?

l letters@hampshirechronicle.co.uk