Bampton House receives grant funding

Homes England have approved grant funding of £779,000 towards Bampton House in Chandler’s Ford, which will provide designated specialist housing accommodation including access to support.

Bampton House was a vacant office block (most recently occupied by British Gas) bought by the Council in June 2022 to provide short term affordable accommodation to help residents with specialist housing needs.

The scheme, which is funded and developed by the Council, will deliver much needed accommodation to both tackle housing problems and address the cost of living crisis. It will also help reduce expenditure by the Council on emergency accommodation, such as bed and breakfast.

Cabinet Lead for Regeneration, Cllr Paul Bicknell, said: “This is a very exciting Council project transforming the building into high quality self-contained flats. We have a statutory duty to avoid the use of bed and breakfast for families wherever possible, and a requirement to move families into self-contained accommodation within six weeks. It also enables local people to remain in the Borough and allows easier access to the services in Eastleigh needed to get support in securing a permanent home.”

Following completion of the conversion works, the first homes should be available by the end of 2023.

Residents choose their preferred play area

Following a consultation, local residents have chosen their preferred design for a play area to be used by children up to 11 years of age at Kingfisher Park, Bursledon.

The play area, that is being provided by Wicksteed, will be located on the open space area on Le Marechal Avenue opposite Hollowbread Gardens on Kestrel Park, Bursledon. It will be constructed in steel with a range of equipment including two multi-play units, a 2.4m climber, a see-saw, swings and ladders.

The play area will be installed and finished in good time for the summer holidays.