MAJOR plans to transform a piece of green space in Winnall to provide a community park have been given the go-ahead.

Winchester City Council’s Cabinet has approved £755,000 from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to redevelop around two hectares at Winnall Flats as part of a scheme to build new 76 new homes.

Introducing the project, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith said: “This is an exciting new project to provide an upgraded landscape area and community park with a small play area around the existing apartment blocks in Winnall where there is going to be 76 new units fitted in.”

He added: “It also provides an upgrade to the community by providing good pedestrian linkages and good cycle tracks leading outwards. It is not provided solely for the use of the existing and new apartment blocks but for other people in the area.”

Conservative Caroline Horrill praised the new flats but raised concerns about the use of CIL funding for the park project.

She said: “I am delighted to see Winnall Flats coming to fruition which has been much discussed and consulted upon during our time in administration. It is a much-needed addition to our housing stock utilising our own land which we know is a scarce resource in our district. However, wWe do know that part of this deal is to ensure that the open space is optimised at the Winnall Flats, I would like to ensure that we confirm that the plan that is before us today, [which] has the approval of allocation of CIL money, does have the support of residents. Does it address the parking, open space amenities and space requirements that the community has? Does the community expect to share the space with the wider community?

“I think it is inappropriate for us to use CIL funds if we do not have community by-in, if we do fantastic.”

Cabinet members came to the scheme’s defence and Cllr Martin Tod said: “I think this achieves a very good balance there’s clear benefit for the people that are going to be living in the immediate area, but I’m also pleased at the walking and cycling routes have been made more attractive, more pleasant, more welcoming which is an important part of encouraging active movement and active travel within the city.

“It is offering a real contribution to the wider community which is why I think it is right that it gets CIL it’s improving the city has a whole.”

The meeting was told that a number of consultations have been carried out and the project now reflects what residents want, including a play park and growing spaces.

Cllr Angela Clear said: “I think it’s a brilliant scheme, I think the purpose of the park is to obviously improve the open spaces around the Winnall Flats area to provide a more useable and accessible area and in doing that to encourage recreational and social interaction between the existing and the new residents, so I am all for it.”