Former Harold Wood Hospital 96-home development start date revealed

The development, named The Comptons, will be constructed on the former Harold Wood Hospital.

The scheme, by Bellway London, was granted planning permission in August and work is set to begin in May 2025.

The 2.8-acre site off Copse Avenue will feature 74 homes for private sale, including a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses.

There will also be 22 'affordable' apartments available for low-cost rent.

The development is expected to bring £1.3 million in contributions to the area, according to Bellway.

This includes £954,335 for wider infrastructure, £250,361 for secondary school places, £60,000 for bus stop upgrades, and a carbon offsetting contribution of £38,245.

Bellway bought the site from the NHS in July last year.

Will Weston-Smith, land director at Bellway London, said: "Not only is The Comptons development going to regenerate a brownfield site, but the payments that we have committed to will also support education, transport and the environment.

"This investment of £1.3 million will make a significant contribution to the area.

"This is a highly sustainable location for new homes, near to day-to-day amenities, shops, restaurants and transport links, while our redevelopment of the site has enabled NHS Property Services to reinvest funds back into the NHS.

"The range of properties we have planned will reach a range of people at different stages in life and meet local demand for high-quality and energy-efficient new homes."

The Comptons occupies a site which was once the hospital’s Long-Term Condition Centre.

As part of the project, Bellway London has agreed to provide 23 parking spaces for the neighbouring NHS Harold Wood Polyclinic.

The wider former hospital site is now home to the Kings Park residential neighbourhood, where plans for 810 homes were given outline planning permission in 2010.

The Comptons will be one of the final parcels of the hospital land to be redeveloped.