A care home which has stood empty for two years has been sold to a house builder.
Colten Developments confirmed it purchased the former Solent Mead care home in Lymington, which closed in 2024, describing the purchase as a “natural extension” of its existing interests in the town.
The new owner is exploring the site’s future but stressed that no plans have yet been drawn up.
The company already owns the freehold of the neighbouring Webb Peploe doctors’ surgery and said bringing adjoining land into common ownership presented a “long-term opportunity”.
In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Colten Developments said discussions are in early stages.
A spokesperson said: “We are now taking time to understand the site’s opportunities and constraints before considering any future proposals.
“We completely understand that local people will be interested in the future of the site and may have concerns.
“We recognise the importance of this site and its relationship with neighbouring land under our ownership.”
The firm emphasised that any future proposals would be shaped by “local needs, the character of the area and consultation with residents”.
A public engagement exercise would take place before any planning application is submitted, the spokesperson said.
Cllr Jack Davies, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Lymington, has been outspoken against the move.
In a post on social media, Cllr Davies branded the news as “disgraceful”.
He said: “When the council closed Solent Mead Care Home, they promised a replacement care home would be built somewhere in the New Forest.
The care home was closed by Hampshire County Council in 2024 following a public consultation process in late 2023.
The authority scrapped multi-million-pound plans to build three new care homes in the New Forest, which had initially been linked to the closure.
A spokesperson for the county council said: “We can confirm that the site of the former Solent Mead care home has recently been sold.
“The sale of sites which are no longer required for service delivery ensures that the council secures best value from its property assets to help towards managing the significant financial pressures faced.”
No timeline has been set for any future proposals for the site.
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