New homes are being created on the site, while plans are also in the pipeline to create a restaurant, tearooms, heritage centre, hotel and business units in place of some buildings which have been demolished and by converting others – including the iconic water tower at the entrance to the site.
The Gosport hospital's closure in July 2009 marked the end of over 250 years of service to military personnel, and local community, with the site being bought by developers for £3million the same year. Since then there has been a slow process evaluating and securing the first phase of planning permission for the site, with some of the smaller self-contained homes on the site also sold off to individuals.
Canada House, which sites on the southern end of the Haslar site, was the first to be developed into apartments. The dilapidated buildings which sat in the middle of the three-sided main hospital building have been demolished and its most southerly side has now been transformed into ‘assisted living’ apartments which have now gone on the market in the newly-news Trinity House.
The Memorial Garden, which is also the home to the Shore Leave horticultural therapy project, has been maintained by its volunteers, and other facilities in the grounds – such as the tennis courts – will eventually be restored for use by the residents.
For the latest plans see Gosport Borough Council’s planning portal and search for application 24/00313/DETS.
We took a tour of the site to see the latest works:
1. Haslar
Trinity House - the southern side of what was once the main hospital building - is now complete Picture: Sarah Standing (290824-5757) Photo: Sarah Standing
2. Haslar
Canada House which has been transformed into 36 apartments Picture: Sarah Standing (290824-748) Photo: Sarah Standing
3. Haslar
Pictured is: Veteran Nick Foot (65) from Gosport, who is a volunteer for Shore Leave at Haslar Memorial Garden where he has created sculptures around the garden. Picture: Sarah Standing (290824-5740) Photo: Sarah Standing
