A FORMER hospital near Fareham could be used as the site of one of three planned new nursing homes in Hampshire.

The Coldeast Hospital site in Sarisbury could be used to house between 40 and 80 elderly people as part of the county's £60m nursing home project ENHANCE (Extra Nursing Homes and Nursing Care Extensions).

Hampshire County Council and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority are working to build 500 beds for the elderly at sites across the county.

The scheme is thought to be the first of its kind in the country and will see nursing homes built on county council land attached to its social services residential homes with some also being built on NHS land.

A planning application is due to be lodged with Fareham Council this week. Two other sites are also being considered.

Once the outcome of the planning applications is known, the county council and the health authority will make a final decision about which sites will get the green light.

Building is expected to begin in the autumn with the first beds being in use by next year.

Hampshire County Council leader Councillor Ken Thornber said: "I am pleased to see the good progress being made with this enormously important partnership project. ENHANCE is a ground-breaking project and the need for these nursing home beds is as compelling as ever - to provide more beds for older people in Hampshire to allow them to move from hospital quicker and in so doing reduce waiting times.

"The submission of planning applications for the first possible sites where these beds may be built marks a very positive step forward in the ENHANCE project. Our proactive partnership approach with the NHS will ensure the future needs of increasingly ageing and dependent older people in Hampshire who are no longer able to live with support in their own home can be better met."

Other sites under consideration include Ticehurst in Aldershot and Oakridge House in Basingstoke. A public information evening where people can view the plans for Coldeast will be held on Wednesday from 7.30pm at Brookfield Community School, Brook Lane, Sarisbury Green.