PLANS to revamp Romsey's town centre has been shortlisted for a national award, it has been revealed.

On February 7, The Romsey Future Partnership, together with Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC), published draft options to redevelop the area south of Romsey’s town centre.

The proposals included a new green shopping space along Broadwater Road, a new location for the Aldi supermarket and opening up access to the Fishlake stream, as well as a revised route for buses coming into the town.

Now the plans have been shortlisted for the National Planning Awards 2020, in the stakeholder engagement category, with the winner being announced in September.

This comes after a large scale consultation, which saw residents tell the council how the area could be improved, came to a close on March 20.

Residents also had the opportunity to talk to masterplanners Nexus Planning and Perkins and Will Architects before the consultation finished.

Chair of Romsey Future, cllr Nick Adams-King, said: “This shortlisting for a national award is testament to the hard work of the TVBC staff, Romsey Future stakeholders and many others.

"However, none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for the fantastic work that has been done by our consultants Nexus and Perkins and Will Architects.

“The response we have had from members of the public in and around Romsey has been fantastic; the citizens’ assembly was new for all of us and was indeed a national pilot in partnership with government.

"We were incredibly grateful for the impact it has had on the project.

"Now we’re all looking forward at what this engagement can bring for the future of our town.”

Masterplanner at Nexus Planning, Zena Foale-Banks, added: “It has been hugely rewarding to work with Romsey Future, Test Valley Borough Council and the wider Romsey community on the South of Romsey Town Centre Masterplan.

"Through innovative methods of engagement, including two major rounds of consultation and a trail-blazing ‘Citizens’ Assembly’, the community has challenged us to achieve the right balance between protecting the unique character and qualities of Romsey, opportunities for new businesses and services, enhanced sustainable transport and creating new and exciting green and blue infrastructure.

"The result is an emerging masterplan that is innovative, resilient and deliverable.”

Transforming the area south of the town centre began when members of Romsey Future, representing different areas and groups in the town, selected the consultants who they felt would be best placed to engage with the town.

In 2018, the first stage of the consultation was launched. This consisted of walk and talk tours of the area, engaging with school competitions and attending key events.

Late in 2019, the project was chosen in a project of national significance as one of three piloted citizens’ assemblies, which then built upon years of work alongside the community.

Around 50 people came together, listened to experts and explored the area, before putting forward a number of recommendations around the area.