Marketing begins for sale of Chrismas Lodge site

08/05/2008 12:00:00

Hampshire County Council is putting up for sale the former Aldershot older persons’ home, Chrismas Lodge, to secure much needed funds to reinvest in adult social care in the county.

Adult social care is continuing to face increased demand due to an ageing population. The advances in medical care have led to increasing numbers of people born with complex disabilities now needing care well into adulthood. This can cost between £50,000 to £130,000 per person per year to provide. Currently the County Council’s adult services department provides information, advice, services and support to over 95,000 Hampshire residents each year.

To help meet the increase in demand and changing needs of residents, the County is modernising Adult Services signaling a shift away from traditional services towards those that better support individuals to maintain their independence, focusing particularly on those people with the highest levels of need.

Chrismas Lodge closed as a residential home in 2006 after a full building and service survey concluded the building was no longer fit for purpose and it became clear that service-users' individual needs would be met more appropriately elsewhere. The building was demolished last year following a fire, and the site is now to be marketed for sale in order for the County Council to generate money that can be used to help fund improvements to facilities for older and vulnerable people.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: “Our plans for the Chrismas Lodge site have always been to secure a capital receipt that we can reinvest back into Adult Services and facilities for older people and the vulnerable. This is a priority for us in light of the growing demand for these services and a lack of Government funding to help us meet this demand.

“In marketing the Chrismas Lodge site the County Council has not specified what the land should be use for, although discussions with Rushmoor Borough Council have indicated that the site does have potential for residential use. Local residents will be able to have their say on any future development proposals for the site when formal planning procedures are started by the new owner.

“To ensure that the local community can continue to enjoy the strips of land to the south and west of the site, which have become an important part of Brickfield Park, a condition will be attached to the sale of the site requiring the purchaser to transfer this land to Rushmoor Borough Council.”

The marketing details for the site will be available on the estates pages on  the County Council’s website from 12 May.

Looking after Hampshire, looking out for you www.hants.gov.uk/mediacentre For media enquiries please contact: Kirsty Gunner, Media Communications Manager (Policy & Resources) Tel: 01962 847110 Email: kirsty.gunner@hants.gov.uk

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