Council announces multi-storey proposals

By Connor Steel

RESIDENTS across Fareham have been invited to join a public consultation on the council’s newly proposed plans to redevelop the Osborn Road Multi-Storey; this popular town centre car park now defined as being an outdated structure after multiple generations of use and no longer financially viable to repair in the long term.

Councillors have released plans to replace the multi-storey with a modern surface car park to be finished late this year, which is hoped to be ready for the launch of Fareham Live in early 2024. Development work on the new community arts and entertainment venue started in Autumn 2022, replacing the old Ferneham Hall site.

These proposed plans include approximately 120 modern-sized vehicle spaces which will include designated areas for disabled people and parent / child needs. Energy generation and electric vehicle charging facilities may be made available if approved; whilst Shopmobility are in the process of being moved to a vacant store.

It is hoped that the regeneration of the car park on Osborn Road will result in a total of 1,096 parking spaces within a five minute walk of Fareham Town Centre. A surface car park can further be extended in the future if demand in the town centre increases; an option that can’t be explored with the existing multi-storey facilities.

This project will be partly funded from income that has been generated from parking charges within the town centre; which is also used for the enforcement of graffiti, littering, dog fouling, abandoned vehicles and finally parking violations through the Borough. It isn’t yet known where the remaining funding costs will come from.

The council would however like to hear public voices and are inviting residents to offer their own thoughts in a four week consultation; which started on Tuesday (January 10) and will finish on February 7. The invitation has further been extended to include businesses to ensure construction is managed effectively for all parties.

Quotes from Councillor Joanne Burton, the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection can be found by visiting the ‘latest news’ section on the Fareham Borough Council website. Readers can further complete the consultation survey via this online link, which offers images and helpful diagrams of the proposed plans.

PICTURED BY FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL: Entrance for Osborn Road’s Multi-Storey Car Park; which looks set to be next stage of development work to improve overall town centre facilities for all local residents.