Homes to finally be built on site of Fareham's '˜Berlin Wall'

For the past seven years, the old Hampshire Rose pub site, has been left as a boarded-up wasteland by the side of Highlands Road in Fareham.

After being passed around in ownership, it now looks to have its future settled as Fareham Borough Council is to spend up to £2.85m in demolishing the pub and the adjacent site at 2 Fareham Park Road to build 18 homes.

The council’s executive has brought forward the plans to build the estate, although the local authority is hoping to expand the development to 21 homes by buying more land.

Councillor Peter Davies, who represents Fareham North-West, said: ‘I’m very pleased to at last see an end to Fareham’s “Berlin Wall”.

‘It’s a complete and utter wasteland and very much needs sorting out.’

Cllr Davies said that despite the money being allocated for the proposals, the council is holding out to acquire the extra land in order to build its preferred option of 21 homes.

He added: ‘Hopefully we will be able to get the bigger option and provide this desperately-needed patch of social housing.’

The site in question was previously owned by Hampshire County Council in October 2010 but no progress was made developing the site and the borough council bought it in May last year.

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of the borough council said: ‘The building has suffered from neglect over the years and due to the housing need in this area, we set out to make plans to bring some life into it and help provide housing.

A housing development of 21 homes would be split into 14 one-bedroom flats and seven two-bedroom flats.

This fits with the high demand for this type of accommodation in the area as of the 610 households on the waiting list for one or two-bed flats, 439 prefer north Fareham.

Councillor Roger Price, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the borough council said: ‘I’m very pleased to see that the council is looking to build homes on a brownfield site. I know that these flats will be a big help to the community.’