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Housing sites · St James’ and Langstone Campus allocation

Former St James’ Hospital: Vistry and Abri (Locks Reach)

58 homes. Permission granted. Milton: former St James’ Hospital site.

Permission grantedShared ownership planned or advertised

1 · What is planned

Homes and stage

19 two-bedroom, 35 three-bedroom and four four-bedroom homes (planning register, reported). An older 2024 proposal of 17 affordable and the rest private is superseded.

Where it stands: Approved 8 August 2025; condition details approved 17 October 2025. Abri expected a spring 2026 start, first homes in winter 2026 and final handovers in 2027; actual commencement not verified.

Planning (24/01117/FUL): Approved 8 August 2025 (reported); condition discharge approved 17 October 2025 covering cycle parking, EV charging, water efficiency and local highway alterations. Approval of details is not proof works are complete. Reference reported from the council register, which blocks scripted access.

2 · Can I buy?

First-time buyers

Abri Homes advertises shared ownership at Locks Reach, PO4 8LH. On 10 November 2026 its page listed 7 homes, 5 available and 2 sold, with prices for a 35% share: a 2-bed mid terrace £113,750 (full price £325,000); 3-bed semi-detached £143,500 (full £410,000); a 3-bed detached £155,750 (full £445,000). Leasehold, 990-year lease, £500 reservation fee, annual service charge (£73 in the page’s budget calculator, payment period not stated). Rent on the unowned share and completion dates are not stated. Check the live page: availability and prices change.

Developer or council page ↗

Affordable and social homes

All 58 affordable (Abri). The split between social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership is not published.

Do not count all 58 as social rent.

The gap to buying and the schemes that help →

3 · Who is involved

Developer, builder and land

Developer
Vistry Group, delivering for housing association Abri
Builder
Vistry (most homes timber-framed, built off site)
Who sells or lets
Abri Homes is advertising shared ownership at Locks Reach. Whether Locks Reach is exactly these 58 homes is not confirmed.
Land
Abri reports Vistry bought the land from Homes England and forward-sold all 58 homes to Abri. A current Land Registry search would establish the registered title. Reported

Public money: Homes England grant through Abri’s strategic partnership is being combined with Abri’s investment. Land price, grant amount, build price and profit are not disclosed. Reported

4 · Roads, schools and doctors

What comes with the homes

“Proposed” means part of the scheme or application. “Not found” means no secured obligation could be verified, not that none exists.

  • Green space proposed A proposed green space, Orchard Park.
  • Schools Not found Residents raised health and education pressure at committee; final contributions not verified.
  • SEND places Not found Not verified.
  • GP and health Not found Not verified.
  • Parking proposed EV charging and cycle parking details approved (reported).

5 · Energy

Heating and solar

Abri says the homes are fully electric with EV charging. All-electric is not the same as a heat pump, and the announcement does not establish solar panels or Future Homes Standard assessment.

The Future Homes Standard regulations are due to come into force on 24 March 2027 with transitional arrangements; whether they apply to a building depends on its building-control application and commencement dates. Solar panels, heat pumps or an A-rated certificate do not by themselves show compliance, and compliance does not require a heat pump in every flat.

Evidence

What each statement rests on

  • Checked 58 affordable homes; two- to four-bedroom; Homes England sold the land to Vistry, which forward-sold all 58 to Abri; first homes expected winter 2026, final handovers 2027; fully electric with EV charging. Abri ↗
  • Reported Approved 8 August 2025: 19 two-bedroom, 35 three-bedroom, four four-bedroom. Portsmouth City Council planning register ↗
  • Checked Abri Homes advertises shared ownership at Locks Reach: 7 homes listed (5 available, 2 sold); prices shown for a 35% share, from £113,750 (full price £325,000). Abri Homes ↗

Still missing

  • Whether Locks Reach marketing (7 homes listed) covers exactly the 58 plots.
  • Rent on the unowned share and the monthly total cost.
  • Tenure split of the 58.
  • Actual start and completions.
  • Land price, grant and profit.

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