A time capsule to capture a moment in the history of Winnall has been buried by primary school students and members of the community.
The Mayor of Winchester, Derek Green, as well as Councillor Paula Ferguson and housing development and strategy manager, Paul Rowland, from Winchester City Council, joined students, teachers, Winchester Historical Association and Wates Residential to mark the burial and showcase the items chosen to go into the capsule.
The project, which was led by Wates, alongside the Winchester Historical Association, saw around 240 pupils from Winnall Primary School involved, with 12 attending the event to help bury the time capsule. Submissions from the students included story books, drawings, year group photos, scripts from school plays, small toys and pieces of work. Wates contributed a variety of items - from site plans to meeting minutes - that will show the progress made in working with the council to regenerate the area.
Winchester Historical Association has noted the time capsule coordinates, so future generations can discover this moment in history in years to come. The event was catered by local social enterprise, Munch CIC.
In 2020, Wates Residential, which is part of construction, residential development and property services business Wates Group, was appointed by Winchester City Council to deliver 76 new homes for the local community.
The homes, which are currently at groundworks, will form an extension to the existing Winnall flats site on the outskirts of the city.
Developers say the scheme will help the council fall in line with its aims for carbon neutrality by providing energy efficient homes, alongside creating future employment opportunities for Winchester residents.
Lee Bushell, operations director at Wates Residential, said: “The Winnall scheme is about creating a lasting legacy for the local area and burying this time capsule was symbolic of this. It was also an opportunity for us to capture a moment in the community’s history as we support its growth and prosperity long into the future. Not only will this development see high-quality, green homes and improved outdoor spaces built for local people, we hope to create greater economic opportunities by investing in local people through education, skills and training.”
Cllr Ferguson at Winchester City Council, said: “Today was an uplifting occasion and it was fantastic to see so many members of our younger community fascinated by the time capsule. Winnall is a hugely important community for us and the burying of this time capsule marks a key point in its development. We’re continuing to invest in the area, building much needed new affordable homes for residents. We’re delighted to be working alongside Wates to ensure the opportunities this sustainable development brings around education and employment also bring benefits for Winchester.”
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