Welborne primary school and GP surgery pushed back to 2029 amid slower house sales
A new school was originally expected to open at 2028
The opening of Welborne’s first primary school and GP surgery has been pushed back to 2029 after slower-than-expected house sales at the major development, according to updates given at a community forum.
Representatives from Hampshire County Council (HCC) and the NHS told the Welborne Community Forum that slower house sales had affected the timetable for delivering key community facilities.
Welborne’s Northern Primary School had previously been expected to open in September 2028.
Liam Presley from HCC property services, told the forum that the project had been paused, with the opening now scheduled for September 2029.
Minutes of the meeting said: “Due to the slower than expected sale of properties, the decision has been made to pause the project and delay the opening of the school until September 2029.
“The project will be restarted at a later date, with the school to be completed in June 2029.”
A county council spokesperson has also confirmed that the school is planned to open at the start of the 2029/30 academic year. Forum members were also told that the opening of the new GP surgery had been pushed back.
Martyn Rogers, associate director of primary care for Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS, told the forum that, as with the school, the slow pace of house sales lead to discussions about delaying the opening of the surgery from late summer 2028 to early 2029.
He added that patients would continue to be accommodated by Wickham Surgery in the meantime.
Asked about the delay, Wickham & Knowle Parish councillor Craig Manuel said: “We recognise that slower house sales have delayed the new GP surgery and primary school at Welborne, but remain confident Buckland will deliver these facilities as sales improve.
“Our priority is to understand the impact of these delays on Wickham Primary School, Wickham Surgery and local residents to minimise disruption.”
In a statement, the developer said there had been “no changes to the timescales which require the school or GP surgery to be built” and that both facilities would be delivered in line with planning agreements linked to the development.
It said Wickham Surgery would continue serving Welborne residents until 690 homes are occupied, at which point the new GP surgery would become operational.
Hampshire county councillor Joanne Burton made a similar point, saying the facilities are tied to occupancy thresholds and that fewer than 40 homes are currently occupied.
She said: “Nobody in their right mind would open and staff a school for 10 children or a GP surgery for 80 patients.”