Plans for new care home and houses at Browndown Training Camp revamped after backlash from residents

Last year, Highwood Homes submitted proposals to Gosport Borough Council for a care home, 80 homes, a cafe and other business units, which would be built at Browndown Training Camp.

Formerly owned by the MoD, the camp currently has a barracks, a firing range and other buildings, all of which need to be demolished before other work can begin. The site was closed in 2009 and sold off to a private contractor in 2012, selling for £754,000. The nearby beach is still used for military training.

When the application was first submitted, there was a huge backlash from local residents, who were unhappy with the lack of open space, impact on parking and traffic worries.

Now, Highwood Homes has revamped their proposals, reducing the number of homes in the plans from 80 to 57.

In the application to Gosport Brorough Council, planning and development coordinator Oliver Dempster said: “As discussed, we believe these amended plans provide a high quality response to the issues that have been raised by you, your colleagues and the various consultees.

“Given your housing land supply and the very clear guidance from the government, we strongly believe that the planning balance is very clearly in favour of this proposed and much needed development.”

Despite the new-look application, there is still some resentment from nearby residents and businesses about the impact it could have on the area.

General manager of Solent Airport, Martyn Francis, said: “Solent Airport object to the proposal until further details are provided on the grounds of aviation safety.

“Due to the proximity of Solent Airport and the nature of aircraft operations in this area, several matters require further clarification.

“The land proposed for residential development lies directly underneath the established circuit patterns used by warbird aircraft and Coastguard operations. Aircraft overflights of the proposed residential area would be unavoidable due to the established circuit patterns. During the development phase, construction equipment - particularly cranes and other tall machinery - poses a potential hazard to aircraft operating in the circuit.

“The proposed installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels within the development raises concerns regarding glint and glare affecting aircraft operations.”

A spokesperson for the Gosport Society added: “The Gosport Society planning team has studied the amended plans. These do nothing to ameliorate the strong objection and concerns expressed in our letter dated 28 April 2025 that remains extant.

“The Gosport Society is firmly of the view that Browndown Training Camp is a most important site critically situated in the open space that separates Gosport from Lee-on-the-Solent. It is also significantly part of Gosport Borough’s open space and the Alver Valley Country Park.”

By contrast, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has described the proposals as “deemed to present a low to medium level of risk”.