£140m estate revamp moves ahead

The Rowner master plan shows the proposed regeneration area layout

Plans to build 700 homes on a Hampshire estate which was once named one of the worst in Britain have been submitted to the council.

Developers are seeking approval for a £140m regeneration of the Rowner area of Gosport.

The proposal, which includes a centrepiece 10-storey apartment tower and shops, would force a number of residents to move.

If planning approval is granted, demolition could begin later this year.

The estate was built by the Ministry of Defence for Navy personnel and their families in the 1950s.

But it was sold off to private owners and it has suffered from a lack of investment. Lifts in the central precinct apartment block have not worked for seven years.

Rowner precinct remains in the top 20% most deprived areas in England and its precinct was nominated as one of the worst buildings in Britain on Channel 4's Demolition programme in 2006.

A partnership - comprising Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth Housing Association, Taylor Wimpey UK and English Partnerships - is funding the project, at least 30% of which would be so-called "affordable" housing.

Alyn Shott, of Portsmouth Housing Association, said: "We feel that the change on this scale is required because of the history of the area and because of the reputation it has built up over this period.

The central Rowner precinct has become run down in recent years

"To make a change of this nature is not something you can do overnight and a large physical change will help that practice."

Compulsory purchase orders could be used to clear the way for the redevelopment.

But the partnership insisted that would be a last resort and there have been one-to-one negotiations between home owners and the developers.

While some homeowners have already moved out, there has been some opposition to the plans from people concerned that the price they receive for their home would not be enough to buy a property elsewhere or on the redeveloped site.

George Fernie is broadly in support of the plan but it would mean his home being demolished to make way for a supermarket.

He is worried the compensation money will not be enough to buy a new home.

"We're being told that there will be no losers but we will have to lose money," he added.

"Financially, we are going to have to move into a house or flat which presumably which will be above the Band A which these ones are.

"We're going to have an increase in council tax for a start and have to get used to wheelie bins and things like that.

"But that is part and parcel of life I suppose."

The proposal will now go out to public consultation.