County Council invests millions in Havant's future

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

More than £30million is being invested by Hampshire County Council in the Havant area to improve schools, and support older people to live independently for longer, according to reports presented to Members of Hampshire's Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel (BLAPP).

At their latest meeting (19 March), Councillors were informed of progress on a number of key projects. These included the official opening event last month of the enhanced learning environment and improved facilities for students, staff and the wider community at Havant Academy following £9million of refurbishments by the Council's in-house Property Services team.

Updates were also provided on a £20million project currently underway to transform, replace and refurbish buildings at Park Community School to provide a 21st century learning environment for the school's 900 pupils. Design plans were also unveiled at the meeting, for the provision of improved sports facilities at Warblington Community School where a synthetic turf pitch and floodlighting is due to be delivered to benefit pupils and the wider community, at a cost of around £1.03million.

Separate plans for the development of a health and wellbeing campus on the former Oak Park hospital site in Havant were also outlined to BLAPP Members. The scheme will see the creation of 50 extra care homes to provide older people with a secure place to live but with care and support on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Extra Care housing also has the benefit of allowing couples, who may have very different care needs, to stay together. The proposals also include plans to create a 30 bed nursing home.

County Council Leader, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "In spite of very difficult ongoing financial challenges across the public sector, this overall package of improvements and redevelopment in the Havant area represents a significant investment by the County Council in the long term future of the area. These new school developments will not only give pupils the best possible start in life with the provision of outstanding learning facilities, but the local community is also set to benefit.

"Meanwhile, the development of a Wellbeing Campus in Havant represents our long term vision and commitment to new ways of delivering social care to meet the future demands on our services from an increasingly elderly and frail population. Through this pioneering scheme, we aim to provide greater choices and independence so that older people continue to be well-supported in their local communities."

Recommendations from the BLAPP meeting will go before the County Council's Executive Member for Policy and Resources for approval on 18 April 2013.

• Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel

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