Local Plan

Outline planning permission was granted in May 1997 for a mixed-use development of approximately 1,250 dwellings and a village centre at Rooksdown. This was in addition to the 500 existing dwellings (to the left in the map below). It is planned to develop the hospital complex as a core area for the Rooksdown development to provide community facilities. The clock tower, water tower, main hall, six fan buildings and the four garden pavilions are all to be retained. They will be converted to either residential, office or community use. Plans allow for a GP surgery, pharmacy, veterinary surgery, hairdresser and a few small food and retail units. The existing gardens are also to be retained as open spaces.

The ongoing development of the area was originally drafted as part of the North Basingstoke Action Plan. This is complemented by the Conservation Area Appraisal as designated in 1998.

New Development

English Partnerships acquired the site in April 2005 and secured detailed planning consent for 1,021 homes. A number of these are intended to be affordable homes. The main area for 854 homes (including 156 affordable homes) was purchased by Taylor Woodrow and the smaller area for 137 (including 47 affordable homes) was purchased by Persimmon Homes. The company was selected after a Design for Manufacture competition to build homes at a cost of £60,000 to encourage efficiency and innovation.

The plan shows the area where development is taking place. The development is being marketed under the name 'Limes Park'. Taylor Woodrow under the name Bryant are responsible for development of the areas bordered in purple. The top area of this is the main hospital site where many buildings will be retained and refurbished. The refurbishments will be done by specialist Thomas Homes, who will also build some adjacent new homes. Here will be the main community and commercial areas. The lower section is new housing on the green field site between the current development and the North Hampshire NHS Trust.

The area bordered in red has been allocated for low cost housing. Persimmon Homes will be responsible for this development. In addition, some other builders have been brought in - see the links on the left for more details. 

The blue area is the former golf course land for which English Partnerships will produce a master-plan and select developers as before. This area should include the planned primary school for the area. Work is expected to commence in the summer of 2009