Ambitious plans to regenerate Portishead town centre have taken a step forward.
The Wyndham Way Opportunity Area Scoping Study report, which sets out key opportunities and challenges facing Portishead, was endorsed by Wyndham Way Steering Group members in February.
The study will now be put to North Somerset Council for consideration today (Wednesday), as well as Portishead Town Council next week.
The Wyndham Way project is in its infancy and there will be further engagement and consultation with members of the public this year, to help create a development framework to plan for the area's long-term future.
Director of development and environment at North Somerset Council and chair of the Wyndham Way Steering Group, Lucy Shomali, said: “Nurturing the right kind of change around Wyndham Way offers an opportunity to respond to challenges the area faces.
“The steering group has worked together to investigate the issues faced by Portishead and the opportunities the Wyndham Way area offers.”
The Wyndham Way Steering Group, which consists of local businesses, Portishead Town Council, North Somerset Council and Aberdeen Standard Investments, has explored how the area between the high street, the marina and proposed MetroWest railway station could be improved to bring the 'greatest benefit' to Portishead.
Aberdeen Standard Investments says the Wyndham Way Opportunity Area Scoping Study has been heavily-influenced by feedback from the local community.
Lucy added: “There is a long way to go before any change begins to take place in the Wyndham Way area, which means the people of Portishead will have many more opportunities to help shape what happens.”
The steering group endorsed the study at a meeting on February 25, which will be considered by North Somerset Council today (Wednesday), as well as Portishead Town Council on March 17.
If the study is endorsed by the two councils, stage two intends to build on the scoping study.
In collaboration with local communities, the unitary authority would lead the creation of a development framework to guide the future planning and delivery of development and associated infrastructure.
If the project progresses, the steering group will continue to involve members of the public in helping to shape the development framework, with a view to publishing it in spring 2022.
People can find out more about the study by logging on to wyndhamway.co.uk
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