Groundwork in Gosport
Groundwork is well positioned strategically in Gosport, with the Executive Director sitting on the Local Strategic Partnership, and chairing the Gosport Regeneration Action Forum.
Outlined below are some examples of projects in Gosport.
HMS Daedalus Community Consultation
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has acquired an 82.4 hectare area of land at the former HMS Daedalus airfield in Gosport, Hampshire, with the vision of creating a vibrant, mixed-use community development that will provide huge benefits to existing residents and businesses. The Daedalus site is at a strategic location on the Gosport peninsula and is one of the largest brownfield sites available for regeneration in the Solent area, providing a significant opportunity to promote economic prosperity, encourage investment and create job opportunities.
SEEDA has appointed a team of specialist advisors to assist in the preparation and delivery of a masterplan for the site. Groundwork Solent was appointed in January 2007 to facilitate a high quality, carefully planned programme of consultation, engaging with residents, community groups, schools and businesses.
Groundwork Solent is leading the consortium of organisations delivering the community consultation, which includes Groundwork UK South East region (for GIS mapping) and Civic Regeneration Ltd (for business consultation).
This first phase of the community consultation aimed to gather local feelings and perceptions towards the development of the site on a broad range of topics. A variety of tools were used to gather this information including a freepost questionnaire, on line questionnaire, street surveys, as well as consulting with local community groups, businesses and working with schools to gather the views of young people. The information collated has been used to inform further study and investigation in a series of community and strategic workshops held as part of Phase 2 of the consultation. Approximately 500 local residents also attended a Drop in Event in July 2007 where they were able to discuss their concerns and aspirations for the development of the site. From the first two phases of consultation, the master planners, Terrance O’Rourke, have prepared some initial design options. As part of phase 3, these designs were presented to the public in a special two day exhibition in Lee-on-Solent with over 800 people in attendance. Groundwork Solent is now using the views and opinions expressed at the exhibition to help the masterplanners complete a final design for the site.
Gosport Heritage Trail
Working with local groups and Gosport Borough Council, we delivered a project that promoted the history of a variety of sites throughout Gosport. The concept was to promote these locations as part of a ‘Heritage Trail’ allowing residents and visitors the opportunity to learn more about the history and varied past of their local area.
Various community groups, individuals and societies provided much of the historical information regarding the many stories of the past that make up this trail. Working with the groups, Groundwork Solent developed interpretation boards for each site to display this information. The groups involved included Friends of Stoke Bay, Friends of St Marks, Gosport Railway Society, Friends of Leesland Park, Friends of the Grove and Haslar Heritage Group.
Nine sites were chosen for the trail each with its own interpretation board, with a trail leaflet designed and printed to accompany it.
Young People Friendly Neighbourhoods
Groundwork Solent is working with the young people of Rowner to help identify what could be done to make their neighbourhoods more friendly and inviting. As part of this, the young people perform a neighbourhood audit and are encouraged to look at ways of improving personal safety, reducing opportunities for anti-social behaviour or bullying and creating a neighbourhood with a sense of community. As a result of the first audit, the young people involved were able to produce mind maps of their likes and dislikes of the area in which they live, and think of ways their area could be improved. Members of the project are also planning another neighbourhood audit in conjuction with the police and fire service.
4 Portland Buildings
Stoke Road Gosport
Hampshire PO12 1JH
T 023 9261 7020
F 023 9242 0418
E gosport@groundwork.org.uk