Royal Haslar, Gosport
The opportunity / type:
Royal Haslar is a large scale mixed use waterfront development project, which will benefit from over £100 million investment to transform this former hospital site into a luxury residential and retirement village, with both independent and assisted living apartments. The main Royal Haslar Hospital structure is one of Britain’s landmark buildings, the future of which is now to be protected. This former naval hospital opened in 1754, when it was the largest brick building in Europe and the largest hospital in England.
The development is within easy reach of Portsmouth’s Harbour and is close to Gosport’s three world-class marinas.
A programme of refurbishment of existing buildings and the development of new buildings will create a new village. On completion, the site will have extensive mature parklands including the existing Grade 2 listed park. The waterfront walkway which provides for extensive views of the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and the Solent, will also be renovated and upgraded.
The development on site is progressing with the first residential and retirement units expected to be completed on the waterfront in late 2019 / early 2020.
Location:
Royal Haslar is nestled on the south coast in Hampshire, close to Alverstoke village and only 1.2 km to Gosport ferry terminal. It is surrounded by miles of beautiful waterfront and is in close proximity to beaches, golf courses and marinas. Portsmouth is just 30 minutes away by road or 5 minutes by ferry. There is easy access to the M27 and M3, while Portsmouth’s rail links are excellent: three trains an hour to London Waterloo (one hour 30 minutes+) and Southampton (one hour) and its airport. Ferries and catamarans run regularly to the Isle of Wight (20 minutes), France, Channel Islands and Bilbao.
Details:
Planning status:
Outline planning permission has been granted on site for the redevelopment of the former hospital site to provide for:
- 271 private new-build residential properties
- 244 retirement homes
- A 60 bed care home
- A community healthcare hub
- A 78 room 4* hotel and spa
- Licensed and retail premises
- Over 50,000 sq ft of business space
These uses are to be housed in a mixture of converted and new build structures. The demolition of multiple late 20th century buildings on site will also be undertaken as part of this process, with more parklands available on- site post redevelopment than prior to redevelopment.
Reserve Matters applications in respect of the Main Hospital building, and a number of waterfront properties have been granted.
Development has commenced with the scheduled demolitions now almost complete and conversion works in the first two blocks ongoing.
Plot size and estimated employment floor space provision:
(below is a breakdown of available development land and estimated floor space provision (GIA) at Royal Haslar)
| Area | Plot Size (ha) | Plot size (acres) | Plot size (sq. m.) | Plot size (sq. ft.) |
| Total Site Area | 25 | 62 | 76,669 | 825,265 |
Development considerations:
The main hospital building on site is Grade II* listed while many of the other heritage buildings are Grade II listed.
