Whiteley - Whiteley Today

Whiteley Today

Apart from the residential areas, which house around 6,000 residents, the main focus was the Whiteley Village outlet centre (a retail centre not to be confused with 'Whiteley Village' in Walton-on-Thames). This pedestrianised shopping centre consisted of a number of discount stores, particularly designer fashions. In September 2007, British Land announced plans to spend upwards of £100m redeveloping Whiteley Village and reconstructing it as a district centre, while also adding housing and a hotel to the area.

Work commenced on the rebuild of the Whiteley Village Outlet Centre on the 4th July 2011 and is expected to complete during H2 of 2012. The Whiteley village Outlet was entirely demolished in Autumn 2011 (finishing by November 2011), with the exception of the medium sized Tesco supermarket.

Whiteley also contains the sizeable Solent Business Park which consists of a number of large companies, including Zurich Financial Services, the new headquarters for NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services) and the offices and studios of ITV Meridian. Development at the business park continues as further offices are constructed.

As with many large new developments the community experienced problems in development owing to a slow provision of local amenities. Today the development boasts a modern and sizeable medical centre including a doctors' practice and pharmacy; a private medical establishment incorporating NHS dentists and a physiotherapy clinic; a local store; food take-away stores; a hairdresser; three pre-schools/nurseries; a community centre; a leisure centre; a sizeable recreation ground having football, cricket and tennis provision; numerous children's playgrounds; a supermarket, petrol station, a restaurant and cafes; a skate park; a three form entry primary school; and maintained wooded areas.

Some problems persist, including oversubscription of the primary school (proposals for the resolution of which have led to controversy) and a severe lack of adequate public transport.

Further problems exist with regard to transport infrastructure. The area has only one main road in and out (via the M27 Junction 9 roundabout), although a controversial secondary route through a residential area is often used by local traffic, as well as commuter traffic travelling to the business park. The construction of further transport links to surrounding major routes is restricted by issues relating to land acquisition (anticipated by compulsory purchase) and associated costs. As a result of the transport infrastructure the volume of traffic using the M27 Junction 9 roundabout is elevated, although this was partially alleviated by the introduction of traffic controls.

During 2008, Whiteley Parish Council, with input from Hampshire County Council, conducted a survey which looked at residents' opinions about road access, housing, retail provision and other aspects of living in Whiteley. 90% of respondents said that Yew Tree Drive or Rookery Avenue, or both, should be opened now, according to the Survey Summary Results. Following a recent traffic census, Hampshire County Council has carried out a survey within Whiteley and affected surrounding villages (Burridge, Swanwick and Park Gate) asking similar questions, but accompanied with information about the consequences of various road openings.