Hampshire nature reserve visitor centre set to become nursery
County Council bosses have confirmed the sale of the building near Fareham
Last updated 11th Jul 2024
A former visitor centre at a nature reserve has been sold off, with part of it set to become a day nursery.
Hampshire County Council has confirmed that it has agreed a sale with a private local buyer for Haven House at the Titchfield Haven site near Fareham.
The authority had put the building up for sale in 2022 as part of efforts to address budget shortfalls.
Various proposals were submitted to the council by the charity Titchfield Haven Community Hub Limited (THCH), which aimed to reopen Haven House as a community hub, café, and holiday flat.
In a statement, bosses said the buyer had expressed an intention to lease the property to a nursery forming part of the Hopscotch Nursery Group, which it claims will operate 'with a focus on the outdoor environment'.
The sale is expected to generate ÂŁ1.8 million pounds to address a funding gap in the projected running costs of the nature reserve.
Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, said:
"The sale of Haven House will release much needed investment for Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, helping us to fund improvements and deliver our obligations to this important site.
"Upgrades are planned to boardwalks, bridges, and bird hides alongside enhancements to the habitats that provide a home to many species.
"The proposed use of the building by a local nursery provider is positive news, offering childcare spaces in an area that has been identified as needing additional early years capacity, supporting local families, and creating jobs."