Fareham Borough Council is taking another step forward in its plans to breathe new life into Fareham town centre, through a comprehensive programme of regeneration.
The new community, arts and entertainment venue, Fareham Live, is already set to become a hugely important asset for the town with new modern parking alongside, and the Council is now considering the acquisition of a series of assets one of which is the Fareham Shopping Centre.
Town centres across the country have been affected by the collapse of the department store sector, shifts in customers’ shopping habits, and many high street brands either moving online or disappearing altogether. Whilst Fareham town centre has much to offer residents and visitors, it has been affected by these national trends. The Council wants to ensure that the town centre responds effectively and takes the opportunity to re-invent itself by offering a wide range of uses alongside vibrant and well-connected public spaces in order to ensure its continued success for the long term.
The Council has recently decided to make the bold step of setting aside over £30m of funding to support a significant regeneration programme. Major investments are currently being made with the development of Fareham Live, and the forthcoming demolition of the decaying Osborn Road multi-storey car park in favour of a new surface car park. The Council is now also in active discussions with current owners over the possible acquisition of a series of assets including Fareham Shopping Centre.
Work will be undertaken over the coming months to create a draft Regeneration Framework for public consultation and partner engagement alongside a detailed request for appropriate funding to support a further programme of regeneration work going forward.
Cllr Seán Woodward, Leader of the Council, said: ‘We are committed to the long-term regeneration of Fareham town centre and have been making plans over several years for how this may be achieved. People now look to town centres to provide a broader mix of leisure and social activities, as well as retail outlets offering products and services that are not so available online, together with opportunities for town centre living.
“We need to acknowledge that the private sector alone will not bring forward regeneration of Fareham town centre. Instead the Council will be leading on harnessing the resources of both the public and private sector to help deliver effective regeneration over the coming years. This injection of over £30m of funding is just the start of ensuring that the town centre delivers what the residents of Fareham need for the future. Looking ahead we will be taking the important step of seeking early views from all parts of the local community on the regeneration opportunities that lie ahead.”
