HOUSEBUILDER Try Homes is staying tight-lipped about rumours that it has won the race for the old Lymington Hospital site.

The Surrey developer is thought to have paid a record price for the 1.93-acre site, with industry sources putting the figure at £10.32m.

Planning permission for 41 luxury three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes has already been granted.

A spokesman for Try Homes said: "We are not in a position to comment at this stage."

Hospital bosses said they were on the verge of completing the deal but said it was too early to reveal the buyer or the price.

A hospital spokesman said: "I am delighted to confirm that we are now very close to finalising the sale of the existing Lymington Hospital. Yesterday we accepted a bid for the site and signed a sale agreement.

"This bid has been approved by the District Valuer and the Strategic Health Authority, who both confirmed that it represents the best possible value in the current property market.

"Although Hampshire PCT still owns Lymington Hospital at the moment we are now confident that we have secured an excellent deal for what was a highly sought-after site. Everything is now set for us to move to the new hospital at the end of the month and ensure that the local NHS gets the best possible income from disposal of the old site.

"We still have some final legal processes to be completed and once these are finalised we will be able to confirm the bidder and the value secured."

The old hospital, pictured below, is being replaced by a £38m new facility on the other side of town, which is due to open shortly. The new building will include an emergency assessment unit, a day surgery facility and a maternity ward.

The 104-bed facility will prevent many patients having to travel from the Forest to Southampton and Bourne-mouth for treatment.