Love Your Place workshop output

Following the kick-off workshop at the Future Towns Innovation Hub on 11th March, the input from participants has been collated and distilled into the output shown below. This provides the foundations for the next stage: developing a set of 'design briefs' for Botley on the themes that emerged from the day.

Visioning

What is your vision for Botley?

Botley will be a vibrant, well-connected destination with a thriving and collaborative business community. A place where visitors stay longer and spend more, and residents feel connected and engaged.

Known for its history and picturesque location on the banks of the River Hamble, the village will celebrate its unique identity while supporting a lively evening economy and high-quality services for both locals and visitors.

With improved accessibility, safer and greener streets, and better connections to surrounding areas, Botley will be easy to reach, and widely recognised as a welcoming place to visit, live and enjoy.

What needs to change?

Botley needs improved connectivity, coordination, and promotion to become a desirable destination.

Key changes could include safer walking and cycling routes, better public transport links, clearer signage and improved parking options.

There is a need for more promotion, a shared digital presence and support for local businesses, as well as more diverse businesses, events and community facilities to attract visitors and encourage residents to spend more time locally.

What stands in the way?

Practical challenges include limited funding, poor walking and cycling routes, and insufficient parking and EV charging infrastructure.

There are also issues with unclear leadership and a lack of coordination between businesses and community organisations, which slows progress. Apathy and a feeling of not being heard reduces engagement among residents and businesses.

Many businesses face pressures such as limited time, high rates and a lack of shared purpose.

In addition, Botley currently lacks a strong digital presence, meaning many of its assets and attractions remain under-promoted.

Overcoming these barriers will require clearer leadership, stronger collaboration, better support for businesses, and more active community involvement.

Emerging Priorities

1 - Create a unified digital presence

Develop a single digital platform for Botley that:

1. Promotes businesses
2. Shows events and attractions
3. Provides visitor information
4. Supports wayfinding
5. Supports community engagement and collaboration

2 - Improve wayfinding

A coordinated signage strategy that:

1. Directs visitors to parking
2. Highlights destinations and amenties
3. Directs walkers, cyclists and river users
4. Links village centre assets

3 - Strengthen Business support and collaboration 

Create a 'Botley business forum' or network to:

1. Coordinate marketing efforts
2. Share information
3. Support joint initiatives
4. Access external support and funding

4 - Improve Public spaces

Focus on:

1. Safer walking routes
2. Better cycling infrastructure
3. Improved public transport links
4. Parking alternatives
5. Street furniture, lighting and planting

5 - Increase Community Services and Activity

A co-ordinated approach to developing

1. Community events
2. Youth opportunities
3. Activities for elderly
4. Inclusive activities
5. We first need to understand where are the gaps?
6. What is your vision for Botley?

Reframing challenges 

Digital - How might we use digital tools to make it easier for people to discover, navigate, and engage with everything Botley has to offer, while strengthening connections between businesses, residents, and visitors?

Wayfinding - How might we create a clear and connected wayfinding system for Botley that helps people easily navigate the village, directs visitors to parking and key destinations, supports walkers, cyclists and river users, and better links together assets across the village centre? 

Business collaboration - How might we strengthen collaboration and support among Botley businesses to enable shared marketing, better information exchange, joint initiatives, and improved access to external funding and support?

Public spaces - How might we enhance Botley’s public realm to create safer, more accessible streets, improve walking and cycling, strengthen public transport connections, provide better parking options, and deliver a more attractive and welcoming environments?

Community services and activity - How might we increase the offer of community services and activities in Botley to provide a wider range of inclusive events, youth opportunities and activities for all.

Join Botley's network