Together We Make Eastleigh
Shaping the present and future of Eastleigh Town Centre for residents, businesses and visitors alike
The Together We Make Eastleigh project, guided by Wayne Hemingway MBE and Urban Movement, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Eastleigh Town Council, Eastleigh BID, and Hampshire County Council, is an exciting partnership project aiming to shape the future of Eastleigh Town Centre.
Latest news articles
- A bold vision is afoot for Eastleigh Town in bid for Town of Culture
- Care home residents and students help shape new Eastleigh heritage murals
- Local college students help with Town Centre murals
- Key areas of transformation for Eastleigh Town Centre explored
- Colourful new artwork installed at Eastleigh Bus Station
- BBC News article - Wayne Hemingway leads bid to revamp town
Coming up
Physical improvements are in motion
Responding to the calls to revitalise the town centre and provide better placemaking. Physical improvement as due to take place in key areas:
You told us that you would like the town centre to be more welcoming and improvements were needed to two of the main footways:
- Regal Walk, from Market Street to Mitchell Road
- Market Street to High Street, often referred to as the Costa Corridor.
NEW urban murals
New Murals have been painted on a Mitchell Road Multi Storey Car Park wall, opposite the end of Regal Walk and the other along the wall of the Costa Corridor.
Nathan Evans, a Southampton based artist, designed and painted the murals to make brighter and more meaningful spaces, as well as connecting visitors with the area's heritage. Nathan recently held a workshops with art and design students at Barton Peveril College and residents of the Alston House Care Home to draw inspiration.
Wayfinding 'totem' upgrade
The 10-year-old free-standing map 'totems' and fingerpost signs which help visitors to find their way around the town centre have been cleaned and refurbished.
Outdated signs have been removed from the fingerposts and they, together with the map totems have been cleaned and repaired where necessary. Newly updated digital maps have also been created and visitors can simply scan a QR code (attached to the totems) to access them, which can be updated as the town centre changes with future improvements.
Town centre events and performances
Responding to the public love of events in the town:
IN PROGRESS - Outdoor performance research
Identify possible areas suitable for outdoor performance, and improvements to facilitate more across the town centre. Integral will be the encouragement for more real life performance experiences for local young people.
Talking the town up
Responding to requests for improved communication to help residents stay better informed about events and activities in Eastleigh Town Centre, Hemingway Design have worked with partners to develop a brand identity for the town that will enable more consistent and confident messaging.
For more information and brand guidelines, please email the Council's Corporate Communications team
We have commissioned artist/illustrator Sophie Rawlingson to work with local businesses and visitors to create doodles that bring the new visual identity to life.
Making culture more visible and accessible
Responding to suggestions for improved cultural and leisure facilities, including green spaces, outdoor facilities, and enhanced Dining and Leisure Options, we will be working with partners to create stronger connections between the theatre, our heritage park, and the town, making culture more visible and accessible. More to follow on this soon!
Plans to transform High Street and Market Street
Together We Make Eastleigh partners have been working hard to turn the new ideas into actions that will improve visitors’ experience of the town and help businesses prosper and grow.
Better use of public spaces
Responding to the community’s desire for a greener town centre, transport consultants Urban Movement have been commissioned to explore ways to improve Market Street and High Street. They will look in detail at what is fixed, what we can change or improve and how visitors and businesses will be able to use the space.
Urban Movement have worked closely with partners and businesses to use the information gathered to create new street designs for High Street and Market Street to make Eastleigh a place where visitors want to spend time.
£10,000 of UKSPF funds have been granted to Eastleigh BID to support businesses to take advantage of the new ideas and approaches being proposed.
Watch the video presentation showing relevant case studies and examples of potential High Street and Market Street improvements. They include public and business seating areas, greener sections, encouraging use into the evening, and a nod to Eastleigh’s Spitfire heritage. [20mins long]
Integrated arts
Public arts have been involved early in visual improvement and engagement projects.
- Creative engagement
Megan Clark-Bagnall was appointed as Eastleigh’s artist in residence for summer 2024 to plan and deliver creative engagement in Eastleigh Town Centre; gathering current perceptions of the town and potential ideas for future activities and public art. - Colourwave
Local artist Amanda Moore was commissioned to transform Eastleigh Bus Station with a colourful and contemporary design that celebrates Eastleigh’s architecture.
The foundations for the project
We completed a consultation and engagement project to establish collective guiding principles for the project called Visions and Values.
In 2024, Hemingway Design invited local people to share their thoughts and ideas about the town centre, with over 2,500 residents, business owners, employees, students, and visitors taking part through surveys, workshops, and meetings.
The feedback was analysed, along with catchment area and local demographics. The key priorities identified will become the focus of improvement projects:
- stronger community connections
- a greater variety of cultural events more green spaces
- a town centre that is more attractive and easier to navigate
- spaces and activities tailored for young people
- a livelier evening economy with more cafes and restaurants
The public consultation resulted in the creation of the Vision and Values documents:
Summary
The Vision reflects the priorities, challenges, and hopes of the people who live, work, and spend time in the town centre area and focusses on six areas for delivery:
- Revitalising the town centre
Transforming Eastleigh Town Centre into a vibrant, welcoming destination for shopping, socialising and everyday life - Green and sustainable infrastructure
Making it easier to walk, cycle and enjoy green spaces, while supporting a cleaner, more sustainable future for Eastleigh - Cultural and community life
Strengthening Eastleigh's cultural offer and community connections through events, creative spaces, and inclusive programming - Evening economy
Expanding evening activities to create a safer, more dynamic town centre that remains active beyond standard retail hours - Youth and family engagement
Delivering more opportunities, spaces, and events tailored to the needs of young people and families - Heritage, identity and placemaking
Celebrating Eastleigh's heritage and local character through public art, storytelling, and high-quality placemaking
Each of these priorities has been shaped not only by public feedback but also by Eastleigh’s core Values, which underpin the approach to regeneration:
- Community-driven, caring and compassionate
Eastleigh is a community-driven town that values inclusivity, encourages local action, and fosters a strong sense of connection and support - Compact, connected and convenient
A people-centred town, socially, economically, and physically connected ensuring the essentials of daily life are with a 15-minute walk or cycle - Cultural and creative
Supporting local artists, independent businesses and meaningful public spaces that encourage interaction - Cultivating careers
Fostering education, innovation, and skills, as a hub for clean growth and advanced industries - Nature and people thriving together
A town that flourishes through environmental innovation and integrating nature into urban life, becoming a leading 'Nature Town', driving sustainability, active travel, and a thriving green economy
Contact Us
For more information or if you have any questions about the project or wish to sign up for updates, please email us