Works to improve and refresh the Kings Walk area of central Winchester get underway this week.
The programme, approved by the city council at the end of last year, which includes a new courtyard area, is designed to make Kings Walk a more attractive place for residents, shoppers, and visitors.
Kings Walk is within the wider Central Winchester Regeneration area and these plans allow for early improvement work before wider regeneration site plans are developed in consultation with local residents, alongside newly appointed development partner, Jigsaw Consortium.
The upgrade includes integrating the Nutshell Theatre with the Kings Walk Arcade, improving the appearance of the façade and entrance along Silver Hill and enhancing existing open spaces.
A new website – supported by the council – is also being launched this week to provide shoppers and visitors with information about the range of independent local businesses in Kings Walk: kingswalkwinchester.co.uk.
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The website will provide regular news and updates about events and other activities taking place in Kings Walk and allow people to plan their visits to central Winchester and enjoy everything that Kings Walk as well as the wider city centre has to offer.
Cllr Martin Tod, leader of Winchester City Council, said: “The previous improvements to Kings Walk have made a really valuable improvement to the area and these changes continue that work. The city council’s new development partner, Jigsaw Consortium, will be working with local people on longer-term regeneration plans soon, but in the meantime we’re keen to support the independent businesses in Kings Walk and create an attractive area for local people to visit.”
In addition to creating a courtyard area – the ‘Courtyard Garden’ – with seating shared between Kings Walk traders and the Nutshell Theatre, the improvement work includes:
• Improved and consistent signage and wayfinding throughout Kings Walk
• New illuminated shop signage and improvements to the lighting
• New planters and planting around the Middle Brook Street and Silver Hill entrances as well as in the new courtyard area
• Repainting of brickwork and replacement of doors to the rear entrances of shops
The works will be phased to ensure minimal disruption to traders and shoppers while they are being carried out.
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