Review: Virtual Politics of Planning Roundtable with Cllr Jackie Porter
SP Broadway was delighted to welcome Cllr Jackie Porter, Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing at Winchester City Council as the guest speaker of our latest online Politics of Planning roundtable.
Attendees from Wates Developments, Redrow Homes, Boyer Planning, Bloor Homes, Mactaggart and Mickel and other industry colleagues working in and around Winchester participated in the discussion, in which Cllr Porter spoke about the Council’s Local Plan Review. As part of this, Cllr Porter stated the Council’s desire to create a vibrant economy, partly in response to changes in work patterns and the possible reduction in footfall in town centres as a result of Covid. The Council is currently considering how to make housing more affordable in Winchester to encourage more local jobs.
The Council is also aiming to reduce carbon emissions across the district through their Local Plan Review. Cllr Porter stressed the need for development to be concentrated in locations which already have cycling, walking and public transport opportunities to promote sustainable transport. She encouraged developers to consider addressing the climate crisis and to create low-carbon infrastructure and 15-minute neighbourhoods, which are not car dependent. Other key issues for the Plan include how to conserve and enhance Winchester’s historic environment.
The Planning White Paper was also a focus of the discussion. Although Cllr Porter voiced her concern about the Government’s algorithm, she also praised the Paper’s emphasis on developing brownfield sites, which aligns with the Council’s vision for the district, and ‘building beautiful’.
We would like to thank Cllr Porter for her time and insights, as well as guests for joining the discussion.