Fareham Borough Landscape Assessment

May 1996

Character Area 17

Park Gate

Description

Park Gate takes its name from the historic gateway to Titchfield Park. It now occupies the triangular piece of land at the junction of the A27 and Botley Road. Although it is largely contiguous with Locks Heath/Titchfield Common, it is bounded by the M27 to the north, the A27 to the south, Segensworth to the east and Sarisbury to the west.

The essential characteristics of Park Gate are: * its mixture of local shops, community facilities, school, larger detached and semi-detached houses and industry; * its busy character; * its focus as a local centre reinforced by the radial pattern of roads; * the presence of the railway and the station; * the location of the Park Gate Business Centre adjacent to the M27 motorway; * its distinctive sloping topography.

Enhancement Priorities

Park Gate is a natural focus for much of the activity that takes place in the larger area of Locks Heath/Titchfield Common. Its busy character is attractive but its immediate environmental quality is poor.

Priorities for enhancement are: * to improve the immediate street environment either by traffic management or through environmental improvements, particularly in Middle Road; * to improve the environmental qualities of Botley Road in particular; * to reinforce the image of Park Gate as a local centre by environmental improvements; * to improve pedestrian connections between the local centre and the station;. * to improve the urban fringe edge north of Beacon Bottom and adjacent to the M27.