Wayne Hemingway leads bid to revamp town

Hemingway said not all high streets were in decline

Designer Wayne Hemingway is leading a plan to regenerate Eastleigh town centre.

Known for his fashion brand Red or Dead, Hemingway is involved in gathering views of people who live, work and visit the area.

Eastleigh Borough Council has received £1m from the shared prosperity fund to help with the Together we make Eastleigh revamp.

Young people from Crestwood Community School were the first to give their views and have asked for a music festival and markets.

Designer Wayne Hemingway has been hearing from students about their vision for Eastleigh town centre

Hemingway said the narrative that town centres were in decline was misleading as some were doing better than they were before the Covid-19 pandemic.

But he admitted there was now less emphasis on shopping and more on "experiences".

"A town has to adapt to that and Eastleigh is perfectly placed to do this - a great park near the town centre, a bandstand in the middle - the bones of this town are good," he said.

The project in Eastleigh aims to gather views from people of all ages about their vision for the town.

Hemingway has been involved in similar regeneration projects in towns and cities including London, York, Crewe in Cheshire, and Weymouth in Dorset.

Emma thought a music festival and markets would encourage young people into town

Emma, from Crestwood Community School, said "I think a market or music festival on the bandstand would be a great idea and encourage people my age to come into the town."

Another student, Michael, enjoys playing sport and would like to see the basketball court improved.

"If people come into town for sport, they will likely go into town to buy food and drink afterwards," he said.

Bertie said the town could make more of its "diverse culture" with a food festival.

"I like to try different flavours and learn how other people live," he said.

Hemingway agreed and cited Second Sundays, a street market with entertainment and food that was introduced in Andover after a similar project.

"Something which started small and isn't costly for the council has brought thousands of people into the town centre," he said.

The survey is asking people their perceptions of Eastleigh, why and when they visit, and what would make them visit more.

There will also be workshops for different interest groups, including businesses, community organisations and young people.

The consultation period is open for four weeks.

Hemingway's other projects have seen him revive the Dreamland theme park in Margate, Kent, and be involved in the rebrand of Shrewsbury's Flaxmill Maltings.

He also redesigned Hillington Square in King's Lynn, Norfolk.