Hospital excellence proposed for Hampshire

22 Nov 11

After a presentation by Turley Associates, a recent meeting of Chamber business leaders and professionals in Southampton recommended strong support be given to the Trustees of Barker-Mill Estates (TBME) and Circle Healthcare in the appeal to build a state-of-the-art private hospital at Adanac Park. The proposed site comes under Test Valley Council and is one of 4 still waiting for corporate headquarters development at the gateway to Southampton from the west.

At the planning Inquiry last month Hampshire Chamber fully supported the prestigious hospital proposal as a business that will provide hundreds of much needed direct and indirect jobs. It will aid inward investment and economic recovery for the Test Valley, while benefitting those who live and work in the wider Solent LEP area and providing bus and cycle facilities, a commitment to park-and-ride, as well as much needed improvements to nearby transport infrastructure.

The appeal was successful and commenting straight after the hearing, Jimmy Chestnutt, Chief Executive for Hampshire Chamber said, "Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted that the inspector has granted consent for the change of use at Adanac Park. From the beginning we have supported the appeal and proposal to build the hospital, which we believe will create jobs in the local community. This is excellent news in the current climate."

Adanac Park, which will be a 3 - 4 storey development with up to 12,800sqm of floorspace, seeks to create 400 jobs and invest £70m into the local economy.

One of the key roles of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is to promote and support development which it believes is in the interests of its members and the wider business community and we hope to report favourably on this appeal soon. Despite the recession, health and health care is one sector that has been successful for investors, so it is no surprise that Circle Healthcare wish to open an ultra modern hospital on this well connected site near Southampton which is already home to the new Ordnance Survey HQ. In the current economic climate, the chance for the provision of jobs now rather than later should not be cast aside lightly.

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