Allies & Morrison hits back at Winchester opponents

The Allies & Morrison partner in charge of its controversial scheme to redevelop Winchester city centre has attacked critics of the scheme who have labelled parts of it “truly awful”.

Paul Appleton has previously described the project as a “labour of love” after the firm drew up its masterplan and designed all the buildings following a competition in 2003.

Last week the council’s leader Robert Humby stepped down after a judicial ruling which said Winchester city council committed a serious breach of the procurement rules when it appointed developer Henderson to develop the 3ha Silver Hill site on renegotiated terms.

Opponents of the scheme led by city councillor Kim Gottlieb have said it needs to go back to the drawing board. Gottlieb called some of it “truly awful” and added: “Some of these buildings do not belong on an industrial site let alone the centre of the ancient capital and ‘birthplace’ of England.”

But Appleton, who in December told BD that he hoped “a few loud voices will not prevent the quiet truth being heard” ahead of a planning meeting which eventually gave the scheme the green light, hit back and said the practice had been working for a client and local authority which made the historic nature of the town its number one priority.

“I have rarely worked with a client or a council who have held so dear the cultural value of their site or their city,” he said.

“The High Court judgement considered nothing whatever to do with architecture or design, or the quality of the proposals – only the technical details of the appointment of the developer.”

And he added that the scheme had received lots of support from local people and heritage bodies.

“It is right and proper that every proposal is examined and held to account. This one has been supported by planners, English Heritage, Cabe, the Winchester City Trust, the local business community and thousands of unnamed local residents through well over a decade of careful work and collaboration.”

He said judge Lang’s decision had been just about the “process and not principles” adding that he was “optimistic” the scheme would continue.

“That optimism may be challenged at moments like this, when all the care that one can invest in historical research, in design, in judgement, in detail seems less powerful than a single judgement which considers none of that. Challenged, yes, and that is quite right, but not beaten.”

The case has a complex history dating back more than a decade when Thornfield was appointed as developer. Henderson bought the firm when it went bust and took on its interests at Winchester and at Smithfield Market in the City of London.

Following the judge’s decision, communities secretary Eric Pickles stepped in to freeze the decision to give it planning.

He has applied for an Article 25 holding direction while he decides whether to call in the application. A council spokesman said “there are no grounds upon which the application should be called in”.

Last year, Pickles rejected Henderson’s scheme at Smithfield which had been drawn up by John McAslan.