Land beside new Hythe hospital 'ideal site' for housing

Proposals drawn up by New Forest District Council have been approved by its planning committee, which welcomed the prospect of housing on the 1.8-acre site at Beaulieu Road, Hythe.

The much-needed homes will be built next door to the £10m Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital, which has replaced a previous facility.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the NHS sold the surplus land to the council for an undisclosed sum.

An artist's impression of 22 affordable homes due to be built beside the new Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital. Picture: Architecture PLB (Image: Architecture PLB)

Cllr Ann Bellows cited the demand for social housing and said she was happy to support the scheme. Cllr Malcolm Wade added: "It's an ideal site for this sort of development."

The flats and houses will replace a 1960s medical centre described by health chiefs as "tired and ageing".

READ MORE: Plan to provide 22 affordable homes next to Hythe's new £10m hospital

The planning application said: "Whilst this accommodation is currently occupied by the NHS, it will become vacant and redundant once the remaining functions have moved into the new hospital."

The proposed development will occupy land between Beaulieu Road and Fawley Road.

It will comprise nine one-bedroom flats, six two-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom houses, three three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses.

The former hospital has been demolished to make way for a new complex (Image: Newsquest.)

The application said: "The design approach has been carefully considered to ensure it responds positively to the surrounding context, including the new hospital.

"The proposal will not result in the loss of a health facility in this location.

"It will instead see the relocation of existing services to the new hospital whilst allowing for the effective re-use of soon-to-be vacant buildings on the application site."

A council report said the loss of the buildings was acceptable because the new hospital would provide an improved and more efficient health service.

It added: "The plans demonstrate that 22 dwellings could be provided on the site and achieve a good quality development without detriment to the character and appearance of the area.

READ MORE: New Hythe and Dibden War Memorial Hospital due to take shape

"Although the development would necessitate the removal of some trees these are mostly of a low amenity value. The higher amenity value trees would be retained."

The new hospital is the third to be built in Hythe. Its predecessor, which replaced the Hythe and District Hospital in Atheling Road, was opened almost exactly a century ago.

In 2010 a survey said the buildings were "functionally unacceptable”.

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