PART of a redundant army base on the edge of Winchester is set for redevelopment.

Landowners the Church Commissioners have joined with Legal and General Investment Management and developer Gisborne to announce a development of Bushfield Camp.

They envisage a 1million sq ft employment-led regeneration of the camp between Badger Farm and Badger Farm Road which they say has the potential to attract major UK HQ campus interest from sectors including life science, academia, media and the health sector.

The camp has been designated in the Winchester City Local Plan as a site for employment. In the 1980s it was proposed as location for a Tesco superstore which was eventually built in Winnall.

The Bushfield site extends to about 43 hectares (105 acres) within which a concept masterplan will be designed on approximately half the site, leaving a significant part of the site to be designed and maintained as publicly accessible and biodiverse green space.

The developers say the Bushfield Camp scheme will focus on better utilising the site’s proximity to the centre of Winchester "to generate new employment uses to secure new social, economic and environmental benefit for the city".

Bushfield was a military training base until 1971 and some of the military buildings and parade ground remain.

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Legal & General is using long-dated UK pension money to invest in cities and towns across the UK. It is committed to helping drive regional economic growth in order to improve lives and deliver extraordinary social outcomes.

LGIM has extensive regeneration and development experience including their work with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University on Newcastle Helix, one of the biggest urban regeneration projects of its kind in the UK. Designed to be a major hub for scientific research and technology businesses, the development which opened its doors in 2020 is set to create 4,000 knowledge-based jobs.

Gordon Aitchison, director of investment and development for LGIM Real Assets, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this once in a generation opportunity to deliver an exemplar development in Winchester. We look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders including Winchester City Council, the South Downs National Park Authority and the local community to design a scheme that has an unrivalled focus on sustainability, inclusivity and wellbeing.”

John Weir, head of real estate for The Church Commissioners, added: “A best in class mixed use scheme in Winchester could attract national and global businesses from a broad base given its cathedral city status, outstanding academic profile and attractive lifestyle opportunities located as it is, between the coast and London.

"We look forward supporting LGIM in their work with the local community to understand the long term legacy they want to see delivered by this new quarter for the city.”