Peninsula Barracks - Trust Annual Report 1992
In view of the current recession, it is not surprising that there has been no physical progress on the redevelopment of the Lower Barracks site. However, in March the Developers submitted revised plans to the City's Planning Committee. The Committee decided that the application should be deferred but that it would be minded to give the necessary consents subject to various conditions, including consideration of an alternative use for the Garrison Church. Permission will be dependent on various agreements including the provision of public car-parking for 100 cars, time and finance for archaeological excavation and satisfactory assurances regarding the future development of the Upper Barracks site. Discussions between the City and the Developers continue and we suspect that little or nothing will happen on the ground until there is less gloom on the economic scene.
The plans under discussion contain a number of modifications and the Trust considers them an improvement on the originals, but we still dislike the provision of a public car-park for 100 cars intended for use by visitors to the museums on the Upper site and since we understand that this was originally a prerequisite of the Ministry of Defence we have written to the Crown Estate.
Consultants employed by the City Council have submitted a report on proposals to relocate Winchester City Museum at the Upper Barracks and the concept and broad design proposals have been approved. A detailed financial appraisal is now to be undertaken. This would be a very substantial project designed to accommodate 100,000 visitors p.a. and will certainly involve external funding.