Developer offers first look at restoration of historic Southsea hospital to create 209 new homes

PJ Livesey Group has unveiled a first look at its plans to restore St James Hospital, a former Southsea asylum, into a new community of 209 homes.

The gothic-style grade II buildings will be ‘sensitively refurbished’ and repurposed, says the heritage developer, with the historic chapel preserved.

That includes converting the former hospital building into 151 properties, as well as adding 58 new homes at the rear of the site – complete with solar panels and EV charging points.

The project will also retain the existing pitch and pavilion used by Portsmouth & Southsea Cricket Club, while the clubhouse will be made available for community events.

Georgina Lynch, managing director at PJ Livesey Group, said: “St James Hospital has played an important role in Southsea’s history, serving the local community and the nation through two world wars.

“Working on this site brings a real responsibility to honour that history while creating a community that will endure for generations to come.

“This is a rare opportunity to deliver a new community of homes in Southsea.

“The unique properties will be spacious, full of character and set among beautiful gardens.

“We’re incredibly excited to see St James Park take shape and become one of the best places to live in the heart of Southsea.”

Originally built in the 1870s by Victorian architect George Rake, St James Hospital opened as an asylum in 1879, before expanding to treat infectious diseases in the 1880s.

During the First World War, it became a military hospital, later evolving into a general hospital under the NHS until its closure in 2018.

• pjlivesey-group.co.uk