The Valley - Estate Improvements Proposal

Overview

As part of our Estate Improvement Programme, Winchester City Council is consulting with residents on a proposal to carry out improvements to the outdoor communal areas at The Valley.

Why your views matter

Following feedback from residents that there is a general lack of useable garden space at The Valley, and particularly in light of the recent Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the Council would like to carry out improvements to the outdoor communal areas so that residents can benefit from having the use of a pleasant outdoor space.

Unfortunately, the rear communal garden areas comprise of steep banks and retaining walls, which limit the amount of useable space.  The communal paved areas have become cluttered and unusable due to the large number of washing lines and resident’s pots and containers.

The grass areas to the front are not currently used by residents as are open to road and pedestrian traffic along the Valley.

We propose making the following improvements:

• Carrying out additional planting
• Creating new seating areas
• Creating dedicated washing line areas
• Providing some bicycle storage
• Building raised planters to replace resident’s pots and containers
• Planting hedges to the front

These improvements have been separated into 3 areas.

Area 1 - rear of of no.s 1-20

The area to the rear of no.s 1-20 has a retaining wall.  Planting will be carried out along the edge providing colour and attracting wildlife, and benches will be installed.

Area 2 - rear of no.s 21-37

We have identified 2 locations that would be suitable for creating seating areas. This would involve cutting into the banked area and retaining with a wooden sleeper wall.  Due to the drop, a picket fence will be installed along the front of the remaining banked grass area.

We will create dedicated washing line areas which will open up the rear patio area and also enable the opportunity to provide some storage for bikes.

All of the resident’s pots and containers (flower and vegetable) will be removed, and raised beds installed to replace these.  This will provide areas for residents to relocate existing flowers and vegetables, should they wish, and to continue growing their own plants.

Area 3 - front garden of no.s 1-37

A 4ft hedge will be planted to the front of the flats creating another communal garden area with added privacy.  The existing 3 bricked areas will be removed and laid to lawn, additional planting carried out and benches installed.

To view our proposal in more detail please see 'Related Documents' below.  (Please note the sketches are not to scale, and are for illustrative purposes only).

We trust you will agree that these works will be a welcome improvement to the communal outdoor areas at The Valley.

What happens next

The consultation closes on Sunday 6th December 2020.  All responses will be reviewed and a proposal agreed.

If we do not hear from you by this date we will assume that you are happy for the works to proceed as outlined in our proposal.  

We will contact residents informing them of an approved plan, in due course. 

At this stage, we are unable to specify exactly when this work will take place, but we will keep you informed of developments as they occur.