Hospital site plans unveiled
Developer insists listed buildings at St James’ will remain at the heart of new homes - but others could be demolished
THE winning bidder to redevelop St James’ Hospital has vowed to put listed buildings on the site ‘at the heart’ of new proposals for homes.
The PJ Livesey Group said it would work with Portsmouth City Council to create a ‘unique solution’ for the 25-acre site put on the market by NHS Property Services last year.
But the company also said some of the buildings could be demolished.
PJ Livesey Group director James Woodmansee said: ‘We see the listed buildings as remarkable assets. This could be a real opportunity for Portsmouth and especially first-time buyers.’
DEVELOPERS set to take over at St James’ Hospital have insisted they will put listed buildings ‘at the heart’ of new proposals for homes – but could demolish some.
Specialist developer The PJ Livesey Group has been announced as winning the bid for the 25-acre site put on the market by NHS Property Services last year.
Director James Woodmansee said the firm will work with Portsmouth City Council to create a ‘unique solution’.
The site was marketed as suitable for 300 homes but council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said he would not support this.
Details announced from PJ Livesey included:
▪ The Grade-II listed 1878 hospital buildings, including administration building and wings, would be ‘at the heart’ of any plan.
▪ The Grade-II listed chapel could be opened for community use.
▪ Parkland will be ‘celebrated and enhanced’, with the cricket pitch retained.
▪ A new-build care home by another developer.
Speaking to The News ,Mr Woodmansee said: ‘Currently we’re only in the early discussions of the planning stage.
‘But we think this could be a real opportunity for Portsmouth and especially firsttime buyers in the area.
‘We see the listed buildings as remarkable assets, and want to keep the trees and natural environment.’
In a statement he added: ‘This is an opportunity to redefine residential development within Portsmouth, providing unrivalled new homes on a scale that can make a real difference to the mix available, making the best use of a brownfield site and securing a long-term future for a significant range of listed buildings.’
A consultation event will be held at a venue yet to be confirmed on July 17 from 2.30pm-7.30pm.
Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: ‘What the NHS sold this on was the basis that it’s a huge space for development.
‘Our council planners have been very clear that they won’t support that.
‘We won’t give planning permission for most of what the NHS proposed could be done with the site.’
Mr Woodmansee added: ‘We will be interspersing new builds with the old complex.
‘Some workshops and other small parts of the site could be demolished, but we want to preserve as much of the old buildings as possible, while striking a balance with the green spaces.’
A real opportunity for Portsmouth and especially first-time buyers... James Woodmansee