Local authority: West Berkshire Council
Contractor: Leadbitter Construction
Architect: PRP
Number of homes: 85
Cost £18m
The Story of Carnarvon Place
The history of the site of Newbury’s flagship sheltered housing complex weaves together characters as disparate as medieval merchants, Victorian gentry, soldiers from the Great War, and modern-day doctors and nurses.
The site’s new use is also the result of a similarly unique story, involving a challenging review of housing for older people, an innovative land deal, and complex funding arrangements.
Trading places
Although close to one of the oldest parts of the town, the site’s early use is unclear. Roman pottery was found in the 1930s but the surrounding area was largely pasture and cottage gardens until the Victorian era.
Known as Horse Fair Close, the land may have been part of a 16-acre gift made in 1260 to the medieval St Bartholomew’s Hospital nearby. While we know that a Medieval fair was held in the area (and these specialised in far larger purchases than on market days), it is unclear whether this site was part of the fair itself.
Hopes of a hospital
The town expanded rapidly through the coaching era and railway age, almost doubling in size. By the late 19 th century the need for a new hospital was pressing.
The 5 th Earl of Carnarvon took up the challenge in 1884. The appeal for a 12-bed hospital quickly raised £500 to buy Horse Fair Close and a further £2400 to build and equip Newbury District Hospital, which opened 18 months later.
Further donations allowed the hospital to expand in 1897, 1906 and 1914 whilst the Great War saw it requisitioned to care for wounded soldiers returning from the carnage.
More hospital buildings were added in the 1930s, and when the National Health Service formed in 1948, the workhouse at nearby Sandleford was also converted into a hospital. However, a growing population since the 1970s meant bigger and better facilities would soon be needed.
In 1987, local spinster Rosemary Rooke died, leaving land and a £1m legacy to start the hospital fund. After several pleas for government funding, a charity was formed to build the new hospital in 1996.
From healthcare to homes
The NHS auctioned off both sites with outline planning permission for housing. Berkeley Homes bought the Sandleford site and Sovereign Housing Association began an innovative asset management strategy by securing the Andover Road site for £5.1m against private sector competition.
A review of our older persons sheltered housing accommodation had identified a need to relocate Sovereign residents from older Newbury schemes which no longer met modern needs.
West Berkshire Council agreed that the affordable housing quota for both hospital sites could be transferred to Andover Road and plans were developed for a self-contained complex of modern sheltered apartments for the over 55s, with an optional and flexible support service.
Building new homes first would allow residents from nearby schemes to move straight in. The empty outdated sheltered schemes could then be redeveloped to meet a need for more family housing close to the town centre. Sovereign agreed to fund the entire £18m scheme from its own reserves – although the government later invested £4m.
In 2004 the hospital buildings (including an 80ft chimney) were demolished and work began on the new complex.
PRP Architects and Leadbitter Construction were appointed to complete 85 apartments on the main site - incorporating a large glass atrium, extensive communal areas, and landscape features such as a butterfly garden. Work was also extended to complete 15 apartments to part buy, part rent on the site of the hospital car park on the opposite side of the road.
When Carnarvon Place opens, three older and out-dated sheltered schemes will close and most of the residents will be moving to Carnarvon Place.
We consulted extensively with affected residents and kept them fully informed of progress throughout the project. These residents have been involved in the decision making process on various aspects of design and specification.
To honour the 5 th Earl’s work on the hospital, residents from the nearby sheltered schemes named their new home Carnarvon Place. On 6 March 2007, it will be officially opened by the 8 th Earl of Carnarvon and the first residents will move in shortly afterwards.
