Seal of approval given to Salisbury River Park Masterplan
"The Salisbury River Park will provide a lasting legacy"
Wiltshire Council's Strategic Planning Committee has "unanimously endorsed" the Salisbury River Park Masterplan.
The Masterplan is a planning document which sets out a framework for considering how the project will develop in the future.
In simple terms, the project aims to reduce the flood risk by creating a corridor each side of the River Avon which will act as a mini flood plain protecting a large area of the city centre.
The endorsed Masterplan covers the areas from the Fisherton Recreation Ground and Ashley Road towards Queen Elizabeth Gardens following the course of the river.
It will provide the opportunity to deliver the River Park project.
Wiltshire Council say it will:
- Provide key flooding infrastructure that protects over 350 homes and businesses within the city centre as well as enabling the delivery of the Maltings and Central Car Park for regeneration
- Deliver 13 ha (18 football pitches equivalent) of high quality open space to be enjoyed by the community
- Plant in excess of 500 new trees and providing 3 ha of new native wildlife habitat
- Help to regenerate Salisbury through unlocking public land for homes and jobs
- Enhance the key tourist arrival point for Salisbury
- Improve access to the city and countryside for walking and cycling away from roads
- Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said:
- “The Salisbury River Park will provide a lasting legacy of riverside green space and urban wildlife habitat for people of Salisbury and its visitors to enjoy well into the future, so it is important there is a comprehensive Masterplan to support these transformational improvements.
- “The River Park is also the centrepiece of the Salisbury Central Area Framework which provides a cohesive vision that seeks to make the city centre a more vibrant, attractive and sustainable place.”
A public consultation was held at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 so residents could have their say.
The planning document will now be taken into account when making decisions on planning applications on any future proposals for the Salisbury River Park.
The first phase of the project will provide "critical" flood prevention measures and environmental improvements in Salisbury's central car park, Ashley Road and Fisherton Recreation Ground.
A planning application for that was submitted earlier this year, with the Local Planning Authority considering it shortly.
You can read the plan on the Wiltshire Council website.