Menin House Fareham: Flats redevelopment is in limbo five years after work started
The redevelopment of a block of flats is still in limbo five years after a decision on its future was made.
Menin House in Fareham was earmarked for new affordable housing by the borough council in March 2021.
Since then, work has been progressing slowly to transform the 24-flat building in Privett Road. An update on the project was provided to councillors at Fareham Borough Council’s housing advisory panel on Tuesday, March 24, with councillors told the authority has now bought every flat in the building that was owned on a leasehold basis.
The council is also looking at the garage space on the site and will be hiring an architect this spring to develop plans and designs for the site further. A public consultation will follow, although dates have yet to be set for this.
Tenants living in Menin House can continue to live there and will be kept informed on upcoming changes, a spokesperson from the local authority said.
The spokesperson added: “A more detailed timetable will be formed if/when planning consent is obtained, and any requirements for tenants to be moved will be discussed with individuals impacted at an appropriate juncture.
“The next step with the site is to develop architectural drawings, following which there will be a public consultation exercise on the draft proposals before they are amended and then submitted as a planning application.”
A report by the council in 2021 revealed that Menin House has old pipes/drainage parts made from asbestos cement that run through the concrete structure.
It was noted at the time that these parts were “starting to deteriorate”, which caused damage to the surrounding concrete and steel bars.
The council said there was “no simple means” to correct this without incurring “substantial expense”.
The 2021 report stated: “The site has the potential for 30-50 units to be provided.
“A significant amount of money would need to be spent on Menin House over the next 30 years, and the council will still be left with a building that may not meet modern standards or expectations. When taking all potential costs into account, it is considered that a redevelopment can be achieved at the site.”
Menin House was built in 1966, and properties in the building are a mix of bedsits and one-bedroom flats.