Extra care hub and community facility gets go-ahead in South Downs

May 17, 2023

Plans for a new 56-apartment extra care scheme and community hub have been given the green light.

The National Park’s Planning Committee voted to approve the proposals for the demolition of Bulmer House, Petersfield – a vacant 1970s building that was once a care home run by Hampshire County Council.

The 100 per cent affordable scheme will deliver 37 one-bedroom flats and 19 two-bedroom flats, as well as a number of community facilities including a lounge, day centre, bistro, hair salon, and activity room.

Planning permission, subject to a Section 106 agreement, was granted to Housing 21 following a previous refusal over concerns about size and scale.

The site is allocated in the Petersfield Neighbourhood Development Plan (PNDP) and includes several eco-friendly features, including an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating, solar panels, electric hot water systems, green roofs and electric vehicle charging points.

The day centre, which can also be used by the wider community, will offer a ‘one stop shop’ for a variety of services for people with care needs including dementia, financial, legal and benefits advice, health clinics and extra support for carers.

The new building will have a carefully considered architectural approach with a variety of gables at varying heights and flat roofs at the higher parts of the property.

Richard Ferguson, Development Management Lead, said: “While it’s a large development, the site is located reasonably centrally within Petersfield, on a brownfield site, among a mix of uses and scales of buildings. A significant number of trees are also being retained.

“This is an opportunity to deliver significant accommodation and welfare benefits to the local community, where there is a lack of accommodation of this tenure.

“The scheme will provide much-needed affordable accommodation for older people.”