‘Legal negotiations’ between the potential owners of Bordon’s new health hub and those hoping to run services within it have pushed back the arrival of plans for the building by four months.
The project is a collaboration between the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company, and East Hampshire District Council.
The purpose-built health hub would combine primary care from the Badgerswood and Forest GP surgeries and community health services on a single site, together with services currently provided at the Chase Community Hospital.
A written report by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, presented to the November 29 meeting of Hampshire County Council’s health and adult social care select committee, detailed the reason for the delay.
It said: “The process of agreeing lease terms with the health hub developer, the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company, is ongoing, as is the detailed design of the health hub. Design workshops are now being held regularly and progress with partners in the scheme is continuing to be made.
“Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board is aware that the legal negotiations between the tenants and their new landlords are taking some considerable time to complete. We have offered our support with this process though it is not something we can directly influence.
“As these discussions have taken longer than anticipated, the timeframe for the health hub delivery has needed to be adjusted, most noticeably the planning application which has moved from December 2022 to April 2023.
“The integrated care board is working alongside the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company, East Hampshire District Council and all our partners to prepare an engagement programme that ensures local residents are being kept informed.”
Whitehill Town Council leader Andy Tree said: “Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford deserve excellent health services, especially against the backdrop of a growing population. The NHS integrated care board will be presenting to the health and adult social care select committee, that I am a member of, at Hampshire County Council in January 2023, and fellow residents can rest assured I’ll be asking questions.”