Flexible Incubation Space at Otterbourne
Hardisty Jones delivered a report which assessed the need for and economic impact of flexible incubation space at Woodlands Park, Otterbourne, in the Winchester City Council area.
Client
Wessex Planning on behalf of Incisive
Services
IncuHive set out a proposal to develop flexible incubation space, including small, medium, and large offices, for new businesses at an unallocated site at Woodland Park in Otterbourne.
Hardisty Jones delivered a report demonstrating the unmet need for flexible incubation space for new businesses within the rural parts of the Winchester City Council area and the economic benefits the proposed development will bring to the local economy.
Our work set out national, regional, and local policy support for the provision of flexible innovation space. In addition, we carried out desk-based research to set out evidence of increased hybrid working practices and how it drives an increase in demand for flexible incubation space.
We assessed socio-economic trends (including resident demography, number of new business starts, and the proportion of micro and small businesses) to show increasing demand for incubation space in the Winchester City Council area and where possible for the ‘Rural Winchester’ area[1]. Primary evidence of demand for flexible incubator spaces was collated and consisted of IncuHive’s waiting lists, consultations with property agents in the local area, and desk-based research of current supply.
The economic impact of the construction and operational phase of the proposed development was assessed using a bespoke model measuring the direct economic impacts. The net additional local impact was also assessed to show the proposed development on Winchester’s local economy.
Our work demonstrated that there is demand for flexible incubation spaces and that the proposed development would have positive economic impacts. The application has been approved after an appeal.
If you would like to talk to us about how we can support your efforts to make the case for and assess the economic impacts for a development, please get in touch using the project lead contact details provided below.
[1] This was defined using ONS two-fold Rural Urban Classifications of Lower Super Output Areas (2011)
