Purpose

To seek Executive approval for the continuation
of the Fareham Town Centre regeneration programme and the associated budgets
for 2026/27 in line with the adopted Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy
2025-2035.

 

The Council has a clear corporate priority to
accelerate the regeneration of Fareham Town Centre in line with the adopted
Fareham Town Centre Regeneration Strategy 2025–2035. Significant progress has
been made since acquisition of Fareham Shopping Centre (FSC) in 2023 and the
approval of the Strategy in 2025.

Stage One Masterplanning
has now been completed, including proposals for the partial demolition of the
eastern third of the Shopping Centre, the retention of the Civic Offices as a
key economic anchor, the like for like reprovision of car parking, the creation
of new development plots for homes and mixed uses, and improved movement
through a new north–south route and upgraded arcading.

This report seeks Executive approval to progress
the Masterplan to the next design stage, including preparation of an outline
planning application with detailed elements, continued design development of
arcading proposals, testing of car parking solutions, delivery of early
enabling work, and advancement of wider regeneration workstreams.

The associated capital request totals £2.60m for
2026/27, funded by sufficient capital receipts, alongside £262,200 in revenue
funding from reserves.

Approving these recommendations will maintain momentum, provide
financial certainty, and ensure continued delivery of a comprehensive, phased
regeneration programme that strengthens Fareham’s economy, enhances public
spaces, increases housing supply, and creates a more vibrant, accessible and
resilient town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.

 

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive:

 

(a)  approves the emerging Town Centre Masterplan as set out in Appendix A
and progression to the next design stage, and delegates authority to the Director
of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member
for Policy and Resources, to progress all aspects of the planning application,
including its preparation, submission, ongoing management, and progression
through to determination;

 

(b)  approves continued work on the arcading, car parking options and other
identified Town Centre Masterplan delivery workstreams, and delegates authority
to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to progress these workstreams
through the next design stage, including detailed design development, technical
assessments, costing, and all necessary ongoing negotiations with partners,
stakeholders and affected tenants as required;

 

(c)  subject to the approval of recommendation (a) above, approves a maximum
capital expenditure of £1,165,162
for the next stage of development of the Town
Centre Masterplan and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and
Regeneration to enter into contracts to secure this, within the agreed budget
as follows:

 

·        
individual contracts for
£250,000 and under, or

·        
following consultation with
the S151 officer for any individual contract awards over £250,000

 

(d)  subject to the approval of recommendation (b) above, approves a maximum
capital expenditure of £1,439,448 for the arcading, car parking options and
other identified Town Centre Masterplan delivery workstreams and delegates
authority to the Director of Planning and Regeneration, to enter into contracts
to secure this, within the agreed budget as follows:

 

·        
individual contracts for
£250,000 and under, or

·        
following consultation with
the S151 officer for any individual contract awards over £250,000

 

(e)  approves an increase to the base revenue budget of £262,200 for
2026/2027 (and ongoing) for the continued delivery of regeneration workstreams;
and

 

(f)  
notes and agrees the
overarching financial approach as detailed in the confidential Appendix C to
this report.