Third new developer found for £25m Havant health campus after previous agreements fall through

Morgan Ashley has been announced as the Hampshire County Council project’s new developer after two previous partnerships fell through.

The Oak Park Health and Wellbeing Campus would bring an 80-bed nursing home, 51 affordable extra care flats and 48 supported living flats.

The project, thought to cost £25m, has been mooted for about 10 years and campaigners hope it could reduce ‘bed blocking’ at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham and whittle down Havant’s housing list.

Former county councillor and fervent Havant activist, Ann Buckley, has pushed for the project since its inception.

She said: ‘The flats and residential care beds at Oak Park are desperately needed here in Havant.

‘The development should have been competed over a year ago but has still not commenced.

‘lt has been years now of muddle and changes of developer.

‘There seems at last to be some positive news, but the delays and lack of information have been appalling.

‘We desperately need rented homes. Hopefully older residents moving to the extra care flats should free up some social housing locally.'

The campus would sit on wasted land once occupied by the former Oak Park School, which was closed in the 1980s and later demolished.

Latest planning permission for the project was granted by Havant Borough Council on November 2, 2018.

Proposals include a community hub, landscaped gardens and car parking, with road access from River Way and Leigh Road.

Pedestrian access would come via Lavant Drive and Crossland Drive.

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Councillor Liz Fairhurst, the county council's executive member for adult social care and health, said: ‘We are continuing to work closely together with our partners to progress the Oak Park Health and Wellbeing Campus in Havant.

‘This exciting project forms part of the county council’s significant investment to develop accommodation that supports vulnerable adults to live more independently within their communities.

‘Our development partner, Morgan Ashley, is expected to begin construction during late summer 2020 and we look forward to this being completed during the first half of 2022.’