Crosfield Hall in Romsey
Council backs preferred option for Romsey town centre regeneration
Test Valley Borough Council has approved the preferred approach for the regeneration of the south of Romsey town centre. The proposals include the provision of a new community facility on the current bus station site.
The decision, made at the council meeting on 3 December, follows several years of extensive public consultations co-ordinated by the Romsey Future Partnership. The approved option was developed in response to that feedback and reflects priorities identified by residents, including providing a central, accessible location for a new community facility, improved public realm and green spaces, and measures to support the vitality of the town centre.
The proposals include a modern, flexible community centre on the bus station site, designed to accommodate events, performances and meetings. This will sit alongside new commercial and residential space and will be set within a public plaza opening onto Holbrook Stream. A new bus station and bike hub also form part of the proposals, while a 285-space decked car park on the current Crosfield Hall site will provide additional parking capacity, including electric vehicle charging.
Councillor Phil North, Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted to support Romsey councillors and the Romsey Future partnership as we take this next step in delivering the vision for the south of the town centre. This project is about creating spaces and facilities that serve the community of Romsey, and beyond this, there are exciting plans for the town next year, including exploring improvements to leisure and community uses at Romsey Sports Centre, making better use of our car parks, and creating more accessible green spaces for residents and visitors.”
Cllr Neil Gwynne, Chairman of Romsey Future, added: “Romsey is a town with a strong sense of identity, and residents are rightly proud of that. We know people have raised concerns about the scale of the proposals and the appearance of a decked car park, and those views will be central to the next stage of design. We are committed to working with the community to enhance the facilities and public spaces people value, while also creating a centre that meets the needs of future generations. This decision is the next positive step in that journey, and we’ll continue to involve local people and businesses as we move into the detailed design stage.”
A key advantage of the approved option is that it keeps a community space available throughout construction. Crosfield Hall will remain in use until the new centre opens, so people can continue to meet and hold events without interruption. This reflects feedback from residents and local groups who said continuity of provision was essential.
Detailed feasibility and design work will start in 2026 once the architects have been appointed, with the submission of a planning application expected in early 2027.
For more information on the proposals and to see the journey so far, please visit the Romsey Future website: https://www.romseyfuture.org.uk/sortcpreferredoption