Residents urged to have say on plans for 230 new homes at St James' Hospital in Portsmouth

Developer PJ Livesey Group, which has submitted proposals to redevelop St James' Hospital in Milton, is asking for feedback from Portsmouth residents.

If approved the former hospital will be converted into 146 homes, with an additional 84 new homes built in the grounds.

PJ Livesey planning manager, Richard Wilshaw, said: 'We strongly believe that sympathetic conversion to residential is the best way to preserve and re-use these lovely buildings.

'We want to be as open and transparent as possible and in the current situation engaging with people on-line is the safest and quickest way. It is a very simple process for people to ask us a question and for us to respond personally.

'We will also give regular updates to general queries.'

As part of the plans the site's cricket pitch and club house pavilion and Grade-II listed chapel will be preserved.

There will also be new pathways built and a through route for walkers and cyclists.

However, Kimberly Barrett, founder of campaign group Keep Milton Green, said it was important for people to also provide feedback on the council's planning website. She said: 'I would still urge people to make their views heard through objecting on the council's planning website because they will look at everyone's thoughts from there when the committee makes a decision.'

Under the proposals 30 per cent of the 84 new homes will be marketed at affordable rates, but none of the converted homes will.

Kimberly added: 'Mainly our concerns are about affordable homes because they aren't providing enough and how nothing has been taken into account about infrastructure. They are saying there will be no increase in traffic but we know that's not true when you've got 200 plus new homes.

'We thought we would be listened to.'

Two separate applications for other areas of the St James’ site, including 107 homes to replace the former Harbour School and a 66-bed care home in the south of the site, are also awaiting decision.

To provide feedback to the developers visit pjlivesey-group.co.uk/st-james-hospital-portsmouth.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.