The Runnymede Campus Community Planning Weekend (CPW) was held on 12 & 13 October 2007 in the Pillar Hall on the Runnymede Campus. The aim of the weekend was to bring together local people and stakeholders to create a vision for the site. Over 150 people attended this event and a Report Back meeting was held on Tuesday 16 October. A broadsheet summarising the emerging Vision was produced for the Report Back and can be viewed at www.runnymedecampus.co.uk.
In the lead up to the CPW various meetings were held to ensure that the event would be well informed and productive. Visits were made to local schools where children responded enthusiastically when invited to show ideas. Publication of the CPW was done through distribution of flyers to households and businesses in the area, advertisements in the local press and the formation of a new website dedicated to the Community Planning process.
The CPW began with a workshop for all attendees. The workshop aimed to cover the context of the site and to increase understanding of the current situation: addressing issues such as how does Runnymede Campus relate to Englefield Green and the wider area? What problems exist currently in the locality? The workshop went on to look at the future: what were people’s aspirations for the site, what would be the ideal scenario in the future, and what might be the possible solutions that achieve this?
Following the workshop and ensuing debate, participants divided into smaller groups to focus on some of the emerging key issues. These ‘Hand on Planning’ groups offered individuals the chance to contribute on issues that interested or concerned them most, and to consider how these might be addressed.
The programme commenced with a meeting with local Councillors, to whom the process was explained and the outcome of the workshops described. Many participants returned having been present on the first day and others came for the first time. Participants took the opportunity to go on an accompanied site visit and after the ‘Hands on Planning’ sessions a final workshop was held on ‘The Way Forward’. This covered the immediate next steps for the project – the first to be a ‘Report Back’ by John Thompson and Partners.
The report back paper established the following:
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People wanted assurances that the development wouldn’t damage the rural character
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It was hoped that student accommodation would relieve the pressure on affordable housing in the village
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Educational uses should be retained on the site
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The views to Coopers Hill from Englefield Green are important and much valued
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The unique landscape on the site and the mature trees must be managed and maintained
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There was a consensus that certain 1960’s buildings should be demolished to open up the vista to reveal the front elevation of the President’s Hall
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People want public access to the landscape to be secured for the future
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Potential for sporting facilities on the site
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The general feeling was that development should be sensitive to the rural nature of the site and its beautiful setting. New buildings mustn’t be too high, should be sustainable and must be designed so they do not breach the northern tree line. This should not be a gated community
People generally asked to be kept informed about the progress of the scheme and involved in the development of ideas. Local networks are being used to distribute information.