Publica was commissioned to develop a public realm strategy for Winchester Station Approach, as part of a team with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape.

Winchester is a historic city of notable character. The town centre was established long before the arrival of the railway, as is often the case in regional cities. As a result, the station was built on the outskirts of the city and does not share its distinctive character and is in need of a holistic strategy for improvement.

To formulate imaginative and uplifting recommendations in keeping with the wider area, Publica evaluated the existing material and spatial qualities around the station and throughout the centre of the city of Winchester.

Winchester has a wealth of varied and attractive features in its urban fabric including interesting thresholds, walls with remarkable material quality and feature trees. The area around the station sits in stark contrast to the attractive townscape of central Winchester. Provision for pedestrians is poor; narrow, over-used pathways are confined by parking spaces and traffic routes, there is a lack of seating or places for stopping or resting. Wayfinding is limited and trees obscure the sight lines which would otherwise indicate a pleasant route into the city. Retail frontages near the station are not well defined which means the walkways are unpleasant for users and businesses suffer from lack of footfall.

Publica focused on four key areas around the station, identifying the potential for projects in each with recommendations including potential changes to the road network and the provision of increased pedestrian forecourt space in front of the station with wayfinding, seating and improved signage. The recommendations aim to bring the character and identity of the city up into the station area and to create a new civic space there that could host regular public events.

The proposals went to public consultation in March 2018.