Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has completed the purchase of a key parcel of land at Junction 7 of the M3.
The move by the Trust preserves the option to build a new hospital on the site in future as part of long‑term planning under the national New Hospital Programme. This project is within Wave 3 of the national programme.
“Whilst no decision has been made on the location of a new hospital, by purchasing the land now we are taking steps to ensure we are in the best possible position for the future,” said Sue Harriman, Chief Executive at Hampshire Hospitals.
How was the land purchased with national programme funding?
The land, located south of Basingstoke and bought using ring‑fenced New Hospital Programme funding, will remain in agricultural use for the foreseeable future while plans for a replacement hospital are still being developed.
Ring‑fenced New Hospital Programme funding is government-allocated capital money specifically reserved to support the planning, purchase, and construction of new hospital sites, ensuring it cannot be spent on other NHS activities.
Allocations in the NHS capital guidance show that ring-fenced funding is around £1bn for 2026/27 and will rise in subsequent years.
Importance of securing the land now
A final decision on the preferred location for Hampshire’s new hospital has yet to be made, and construction is expected to start on Wave 3 soon. Work is specifically forecast to begin between 2037 and 2039.
By securing the site now, the Trust aims to mitigate future risks such as rising land costs or the loss of availability at this strategic location.
The purchase preserves flexibility for long‑term service development while ongoing improvement work continues across the existing hospital estate to ensure current facilities remain safe, functional and able to meet patient and staff needs.
Should the land ultimately not be required for the new hospital, the Trust retains the ability to dispose of the site in future without incurring a financial loss.