Former Portsmouth care home Hilsea Lodge looks set to be turned into housing

Hilsea Lodge in Gatcombe Drive was closed in 2019 alongside Edinburgh House in Cosham after they were deemed to no longer provide the most appropriate type of care for people with dementia.

Since then, the council has progressed plans for a 50-bed extra care facility on the site of the latter with planning permission granted in June.

Following this decision, the council began working on proposals for Hilsea Lodge with councillors told in August that it had been identified for its next development scheme.

Although no detailed plan for the future of the site was drawn up at the time of its closure, it was said that it would likely host either a physical disability extra care development, supported living or social housing.

In response to a question at Tuesday's full council meeting, councillor Darren Sanders said there was a 'possibility' that sheltered housing could be included in the new development.

Details of the project were due to be shared at the Party for Hilsea event which was postponed due to the death of the Queen and is now due to take place on Saturday (October 15).

‘Ultimately we want to try and ensure that the views of local people are taken on board,’ Cllr Sanders said. 'As you will know from the Doyle Avenue development, that was heavily changed, mainly because people wanted cars. and more parking up there.

'We will take on board the feedback and we'll see what priorities we've also got.’

Doyle Avenue in Hilsea saw 17 affordable homes built on the corner of Northern Parade, on the site of a former health clinic that was demolished in 2013. It proved controversial at first as the land been used for parking by local residents, who were worried about the effect of losing it.

Cllr Sanders said while the main building of Hilsea Lodge was now unused, two annexes were already being used for housing and that the wider project was likely to build on this.

‘We have a waiting list and we want to try and get that down,’ he added. ‘The city needs more homes Portsmouth people can afford.’