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From Workhouse to Townhouse in Winchester

25.06.2002

Designs by PRP Architects have been selected for the redevelopment of one of Winchester’s highest-profile sites - the former St Paul’s Hospital on St Paul’s Hill. The location is an established conservation area, and PRP’s commission features two separate contracts: one for housing design, and the other for landscape architecture services.

Now owned by Gleeson Homes, the site will provide 53 top-quality new homes, 29 new-build and 24 located in converted hospital buildings. There will also be a new doctor’s surgery, dental practice and pharmacy.

PRP’s designs respond to the need for a particularly sensitive and sustainable approach on what is one of Winchester’s prime city centre redevelopment sites. They meet a stringent development brief drawn up by Winchester City Council, which includes input from English Heritage, the Winchester Architects’ Panel and the Winchester Preservation Trust. This calls for the retention of the hospital’s former nurses’ home (built in 1912), its main building which includes the remnants of Winchester’s workhouse (dating from 1837), the original infirmary building (built in 1873), and its porters’ lodge (dating from the turn of the century). All are classified as of architectural and historic importance. However, a number of other buildings on the site such as the Osmond/Carter ward block, the day hospital and peripheral buildings - all post-1885 - will be demolished.

Housing design

The guiding principle of the conversion element of the development has been to safeguard the external structure of each building. For example, the existing external metal staircases and outbuildings will be removed from the workhouse to recreate its original form, but historic irregularities in its construction and the simple detail which characterises the building will be retained.

The design of the new houses responds to the scale and form of existing buildings, both on the site and in the locality. The homes also have an urban feel and simple forms which indicate their late 20th-century origin, whilst respecting the heritage of neighbouring earlier buildings. They will be built from warm red brick with slate roofs, steel balustrades and metal bay and oriel windows.

Landscape strategy and sustainability

The other half of PRP’s commission, its comprehensive landscape strategy, responds both to Gleeson Homes’ strong commitment to sustainability, and to the requirements of the site itself.

For example, an innovative traffic management approach will address the constraints imposed by the site and its retained buildings. This will involve creating unadopted roads whose sightlines, width and surfacing will discourage high speeds, while still allowing easy access for fire, refuse and delivery vehicles. There will be traffic-calming measures in the nearby roads, Clifton Terrace and St Paul’s Hill, as well as new pedestrian links to, and routes through, the site to encourage walking and minimise car use. Parking spaces will also be limited to an average of 1.2 per dwelling, in keeping with the area’s urban surroundings.

The site will have three main open spaces, each with a different character and topography, to provide play space and create interest and a sense of place. Additionally, street furniture, bollards and surfaces have all been carefully chosen to create an environment that is welcoming, but identifiably private in nature. There will be a comprehensive, separate tree management strategy.

‘We picked PRP for this important project because we knew they would be good at dealing with a complex, convoluted site like this one,’ said Charles Wiggins, Gleesons’ land manager. “The fact that they can offer specialist landscape as well as housing design skills was another key factor.’

‘Obviously this was always going to be a sensitive site, given its location,’ said David Loxton of PRP Architects, ‘and the fact that we are proposing an element of demolition makes it even more so. But through careful design and close liaison with the Council and local people, we have come up with a proposal which everyone is happy with.’

Work on site is due to begin in late spring.