A MAJOR redevelopment near Romsey has been approved.

The £10m nature-based redevelopment of aquatic centre World of Water on Greatbridge Road was backed by councillors on the planning committee of Test Valley Brough Council.

Developer ep projects today reacted to the news. Managing director Gary Wilburn said: "We are all absolutely delighted. It has been a long journey but we have got there. It will be good for the community, good for everybody."

The state-of-the-art facilities and landscaping of the 4.2-acre site, will provide visitor, work and hospitality spaces, as well as enhanced access to the adjacent 170-acre Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve.

Mr Wilburn has been working closely with residents, local groups, stakeholders, impact investors Azure One and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to ensure that the development improves the area for wildlife and offers opportunities for people to connect with nature.

The development will be built to the highest 'Building with Nature' accreditation standards. The 21,463 sq. ft buildings will follow Net Zero Carbon status standards and feature extensive use of locally sourced materials. They are also designed to be naturally ventilated and illuminated with minimal energy use. This approach, also known as biophilic design, ensures that the building integrates seamlessly into the natural surroundings and creates a healthy environment.

Winchester-based landscape architects Strata Design are working with ep projects on the rewilding of the site to echo the adjacent nature reserve and encourage biodiversity. Native planting will be complimented with wildflower roofing and living walls to the buildings.

The centrepiece of the scheme will be a three-storey, timber bird-hide, reached via a 100-metre raised walkway and bridges over Fishlake Stream from the visitor centre and into the water meadows. The hide and relandscaped site will provide access for all and link the existing pathways providing circular walks around the Fishlake reserve.

It is the intention to create the opportunity for the local community to become investors in the project and pioneer a new and sustainable approach to nature-based developments.This will be enabled via Ethex – a leading UK based impact investing platform that helps everyday people make ethical investments and fund extraordinary organisations creating a positive change in the world.

Construction partners will be selected during July 2021, with the demolition and enabling works planned to start this Autumn. The whole project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.

Expected to create around 150 jobs, the site will accommodate 450 visitors, an on-site café, retail space and educational facilities, as well as flexible workspaces.

Mr Wilburn added: “We would like to thank the community, societies and councillors, as well our partners for their continued support to see the project come to fruition. The scheme aims to set new standards for sustainable construction, and as such it has required everyone to support a vision to do things differently, do things better, a challenge they have risen to fantastically. We look forward to working with the community, our partners and all stakeholders to deliver all-round positive impact and a long-lasting legacy for the site”.

Debbie Tann, chief executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "This disused site sits next to our nature reserve, Fishlake Meadows – a wonderful wildlife haven on the edge of Romsey.

"There is a real opportunity to bring nature to the fore here and we are happy to be working with the ep projects team to help ensure that the development is sensitive to the special wildlife of our nature reserve and delivers genuine benefits for both wildlife and local people”.