Hampshire Primary Care Trust cast doubt over the proposed government-backed 'polyclinic' at the Gosport site, saying it already has sufficient services in place to meet patients' needs.

However the bid to create the one-stop clinic and 715 homes after the NHS pulls out of the site next July have been welcomed by Gosport borough councillors, who want the site to be retained for health and community use.

And Askett Hawk Developments claims consultations with GPs in the area show they want to continue to refer their patients to Haslar after next July.

Polyclinics have been criticised by some medical experts who claim they would waste money.

And because the clinic would receive no government funding it would be reliant on the local NHS to commission and provide services to be viable.

Alex Berry, director of commissioning, said Hampshire Primary Care Trust has met the developers.

She said: 'At the meeting the trust explained that we are confident that the local NHS has sufficient services in place to meet the needs of local residents.'

But John Lucken, from Arkanum, which is investigating options for healthcare at Haslar on behalf of Askett Hawk, said: 'It is apparent that GPs would like to continue to refer their patients to Haslar for certain clinics.

'There is a well-equipped diagnostic and treatment centre and consultants are interested in continuing to provide surgical elective care.

'But it is up to GPs to use it and refer their patients there, otherwise it won't work.

'It's clear that continuing provision of health care services there will only be possible with the support of local NHS trust, medical professionals and patients.'

Gosport Borough Council leader David Smith said: 'Any proposal that includes the retention of hospital services on site and keeps extra traffic off the A32 is a good thing.

'The problem we have with the homes is with the infrastructure there.'

Save Haslar Taskforce spokesman Peter Edgar said: 'The fact that somebody has shown an interest in the site shows there is light at the end of the tunnel.'

But Mr Edgar said that there were too many homes planned and that it did not fit in with the local plan.