News
21/02/2020
Highwood announces historic first handover of North Stoneham Park to Eastleigh Council
Highwood Group has officially handed over the first reins of responsibility of the vast 40-acre Avenue Park area of North Stoneham Park and its public spaces to the town’s council.
The historic handover represents the first and most substantial adoption of the development by Eastleigh Borough Council and incorporates the stunning landscape and open spaces that stretch to the new local centre as well as the children’s play park, where work will begin this spring.
Preserved for generations of residents and visitors to enjoy
The Park’s residents, dog walkers, ramblers, runners and families who want to bring their children for a great day out can now enjoy the glorious network of footpaths that link all areas of the Park. Highwood has even altered the route of ‘Footpath 54’ to accommodate the beautiful Smith’s pond and take walkers coming from Southampton across the Park. The new pathway also takes in Avenue Park’s war memorial, St Nicolas Church and can lead walkers right through to Southampton’s Bassett Green via a brand-new footpath on Stoneham Lane or over Stoneham Way to Lakeside Country Park and Parkway station.
Together, these public footpaths take in the ponds, swales, ecological areas and protected habitats that are home to the Park’s wildlife, including its dormice and the breeding birds of the hedgerows – all of which will now be preserved and maintained for generations of residents and visiting public to enjoy. Ashley Beckett, Highwood’s Project Director at Stoneham completed a physical handover of keys to the Council’s Head of Direct Services, Paul Naylor.
‘This really is a significant event in the history and development of the Park,’ commented Ashley. ‘The open spaces and landscapes that Highwood has created here have really come to life and the adoption by Eastleigh Council will ensure all these areas will continue to look amazing. It’ll make an incredible difference for both those who live here and those who want to bring their families to experience this beautiful setting.’
Highwood has also announced it has donated a generous £300,000 to improve the parks and open spaces around Eastleigh – a move welcomed by the Chair of Eastleigh Local Area Committee, Cllr Paul Bicknell.
‘This investment in these exciting projects is in addition to the new play area planned for North Stoneham Park,’ he revealed. ‘This further reinforces ELAC’s commitment to investing in new play areas and public open spaces for our residents, enabling our younger generation to benefit from quality outdoor play areas for many years to come.’
Work on the new play park that residents and visiting children will be able to enjoy will begin in the coming months and a further handover of other public open spaces to Eastleigh Council will take place in March.
To find out more about North Stoneham Park, please visit northstonehampark.co.uk.