Alton Renewal Plan - Community Panel

The Inaugural Meeting of the Alton Community Panel

The inaugural meeting of the new Alton Community Panel, on Tuesday 6th May 2025, was an opportunity for members to get to know each other. It was a resounding success, marked by enthusiastic participation and a shared vision for local improvement.

The diverse perspectives and expertise of the panel sparked vibrant discussions around what members hopes for the panel were.

They set actionable goals for the coming months, signalling a promising start to their participatory journey.

The Second Meeting of the Alton Community Panel

The second meeting of the Alton Community Panel took place on Tuesday 20th May 2025.

Alton Community Panel members are pictured during their second meeting.

During the second meeting, the Alton Community Panel looked at how an understanding of the identity or character of a place can inform decisions about design.

The third meeting of the Alton Community Panel

For session 3 of the Alton Community Panel, members were asked to help shape the brief for the new "Village Green".

Members of the Alton Community Panel were asked to think about what the new "Village Green" should offer, and what should the landscape architects be asked to pay particular attention to in the design of the space?

Fourth meeting of the Alton Community Panel

At Session Four, the Alton Community Panel members mapped out opportunities for future meetings. 

The Panel members took time to plan their future meetings, based on the level of meaningful input they could have.

The masterplan and the lighting strategy were chosen as the next two topics for discussion.

Extra Session - Learning about the planning process

During Session 5, the Planning Department's engagement team delivered an insightful session on "What is Planning?"

Panel members explored the purpose of planning, its impact on communities, and key planning processes. The session ended with a budgeting exercise, where panel members acted as planners to set spending priorities.

FIFTH MEETING OF THE ALTON COMMUNITY PANEL

During the sixth session, panel members explored the character of an area. They considered how to design spaces, taking into account heritage features alongside more current characteristics.

Panel members were asked to look at three areas of the estate and decide what essential characteristics could be identified. The essential characteristics will help the ongoing design of the masterplan, and understanding what is important about the neighbourhoods can inform further development.

SIXTH MEETING OF THE ALTON COMMUNITY PANEL

During the seventh session of the Alton Community Panel, members split into two groups to review and rank the proposed lighting strategies for meanwhile use.

Knowing that only two or three of the lighting options they were reviewing could be funded, the groups were asked to prioritise the options and list their reasons for doing so.

Working independently, both groups agreed the same top priorities for lighting on their estate.

Seventh meeting of the Alton Community Panel

During the eighth session of the Alton Community Panel, members focused on identifying health priorities from a resident perspective. The session aimed to understand what health factors are most important to the community and how Block A may influence health outcomes.

Feedback gathered during this session will directly inform the development of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA), to ensure that health and wellbeing are considered in detail as part of the development process.

Eighth meeting of the Alton Community Panel

The ninth session of the Alton Community Panel was led by the transport planning team and focused on pedestrian improvements. Panel members identified routes they use regularly and those they avoid due to barriers or safety concerns.

Panel members used a map of the estate to mark up high footfall areas and locations with limited access.

Working in teams, participants listed desired improvements to the estate such as the addition of drop curbs, ramps, and other accessibility features.

Ninth meeting of the Alton Community Panel

During the tenth session of the ACP, members focused on Block A - the new community hub - and the adjoining residential building. They were asked to prioritise workshops and a formal engagement strategy for 2026.

Eleventh meeting of the Alton Community Panel

The eleventh session of the Alton Community Panel followed a recent external review of the panel's findings, which included the production of an evaluation report. The session focussed on considering what should happen next and centred on reflection and future planning. 

The meeting began with a group discussion of the evaluation report. Participants then reviewed ongoing actions and unresolved items from the 2025 sessions, to gauge early priorities.

The meeting ended with an overview of the 2026 Masterplan process, highlighting opportunities where the panel could have meaningful involvement. There was also time allowed at the end of the session to discuss any questions. 

Twelfth Meeting of the Alton Community Panel

During the 12th session of the Alton Community Panel, participants gave careful consideration to the evolving designs for the Village Green and the Community Square. They explored questions like:  How can these open spaces best serve the community and residents?  What kind of character and uses should each have? How should the two spaces work in relationship to each other and to other public spaces in the Masterplan?

THIRTEENTH MEETING OF THE ALTON COMMUNITY PANEL

During the thirteenth session of the Alton Community Panel, HTA (the design team guiding the Alton Renewal Plan housing proposals) led Panel members through the essentials of housing design, regulations, policy, viability, and key service needs like bins, cycle storage, and utilities.

Panel members reflected on what works and what doesn't in their current homes. Built in the 1960s, many properties no longer meet modern needs, with issues as basic as appliances not fitting through doorways.

The group then explored priorities for new homes: entrance and security, bin storage, layout choices (open plan vs. separate rooms), and the role of balconies and private space.

There was far more to cover than the two hours allowed for the session.

FOURTEENTH MEETING OF THE ALTON COMMUNITY PANEL

For our fourteenth Alton Community Panel meeting, we invited Social Life to lead a session on Social Impact Assessments (SIA).

As Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) were a new concept for many members of the panel, the hosts explained that SIAs assess, predict, and manage the social impacts of projects or policies. They look beyond economic outcomes to consider effects on people's lives, communities, health, wellbeing, and relationships, both positive and negative.

The panel members stressed that, as the SIA brief is developed, it should clearly set out how consultants will engage residents and stakeholders throughout the process.