RESIDENTS are being asked to share their views to shape the future of Salisbury's city centre.

The Salisbury Central Area Framework (CAF) will set out plans to create a more vibrant and attractive city centre.

Wiltshire Council, with the support of Salisbury City Council and planning and urban designers Tibbalds, are working together to look at the future for Salisbury.

The CAF will guide several different projects and initiatives, which will be delivered by many different stakeholders and partners, including Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, the Business Improvement District and prospective private developers, and will ensure all these stakeholders are working towards the same goals in terms of the city centre’s design, management and maintenance.

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It builds on previous consultations and brings together many different projects and initiatives under one single document that, Wiltshire Council says "will be deliverable".

It will also help to inform the emerging Neighbourhood Plan and Local Plan Policy.

The survey is looking for residents views on people-friendly streets, better connections to the city’s green spaces, new character areas, development opportunities and more.

The framework will focus on five themes including getting around (improving the area for walking and cycling; open space and landscape; creating vibrancy; bringing out the quality (improving public realm and quality/ maintenance of historic buildings); and character and distinctiveness. 

Draft objectives being proposed include connecting the city with the landscape by making more of the rivers and water meadows by creating a "river park"; providing employment opportunities and housing choices; space for creativity and culture; prioritising places and spaces for pedestrians; meeting the day-to-day needs of residents and workers; looking to the future and addressing climate change. 

The framework is proposing to define "character areas" with recommendations to encourage particular uses within these areas. These include Chequers, Fisherton Street, Castle Street North, Cultural Quarter, the Meadows, Churchfields, the cathedral and station. For example in terms of the station the future role of that character area would look to enhance the city's gateway, focus on business activity and have an improved transport hub. 

Pauline Church, the cabinet member for economic development and south Wiltshire recovery, said: “Salisbury is a historic, characterful and in many ways a successful place. However, in recent years, a combination of the economic downturn, the changing role of small cities, and the incident in 2018 have threatened its vibrancy.

“We recognise the need to reinvigorate the city centre to ensure Salisbury is as successful and resilient as it can be, and the Salisbury Central Area Framework will help us define the best possible strategy to make positive improvements.

“We want to deliver a strategy that is widely supported, based in commercial reality, sets out a clear path towards delivery, promotes better design quality, and helps to attract inward investment.

“But we can’t do it without your comments, so we’re looking for your views and ideas, and we want to know what you think about some of the suggestions and ideas we have to make Salisbury city centre a better place to live, work and visit.”

Councillor John Farquar, of Salisbury City Council, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for residents and businesses to have an input, as we shape our city’s development in the coming years. Their participation is an important element of the planning process, and an opportunity for them to leave their mark.

“I hope that the Salisbury community will engage enthusiastically and imaginatively to allow this city to be the best we can make it.”

The consultation opened today and runs until Friday, August 9 until 5pm, go to wiltshire.gov.uk/salisbury-future

Paper copies of the exhibition boards and response forms are available from Salisbury, Wilton, Downton, Durrington and Amesbury libraries, Five Rivers lesiure centre and the Wiltshire Council offices in Bourne Hill. 

A public exhibition will be held on Tuesday (July 2) from 9.30am to 6.45pm in the Guildhall Square.