Press Release

Fareham Park Community Centre

10 August 2026

Neilcott appointed to build new Fareham Park Community Centre

Fareham Borough Council has appointed leading regional contractor Neilcott Construction Ltd to deliver a new community centre for Fareham Park, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of local community and leisure facilities.

Designed to provide a modern, flexible and welcoming community hub for local residents, architects Boyle & Summers, who have been appointed by Neilcott to finalise the design, have today submitted a full planning application for the scheme, bringing the project a step closer to construction.

Phase one of the Council’s vision to transform the existing community and leisure facilities was completed last year, with a new accessible play area and multi-use social area (MUSA) at Fareham Park Recreation Ground having been officially opened in September 2025.

This next phase focuses on the delivery of the new community centre on the site to better meet the needs of local people. The existing community centre, built in the early 1990s, is the smallest community centre in the borough and no longer meets the growing demand or diverse needs of the local community.

Developed in collaboration with community groups and local residents, the new design will provide over 800 metres of modern community space, around four times larger than the current building, and includes air source heat pumps and solar PV. The proposed facility has been carefully designed to offer a range of flexible, accessible spaces that can support community activities, services and events for generations to come.

Features of the new community centre include:

A main hall, secondary hall, and youth/pre-school spaces
Quiet/counselling room
Kitchen and social areas
External landscaping and pétanque terrain

Ciarán O'Leary - Regional Director (Winchester) for Neilcott Construction Ltd, said:

“We are delighted to have been selected by the Council to deliver this important community project.

“As a regional contractor, we are committed to maximising opportunities for local businesses wherever possible and creating lasting social value throughout the project. Alongside the construction work itself, we look forward to supporting skills development by engaging with local schools and colleges to offer a number of training and employment opportunities, supporting local community groups, and delivering wider benefits that leave a positive legacy for Fareham Park."

Councillor Frair Burgess, Executive Member for Leisure and Community at Fareham Borough Council, said:

“This is an exciting moment for the community of Fareham Park. Submitting the planning application is an important step towards delivering a much-needed new community facility for Fareham Park. The new building will provide modern, flexible spaces that support a wide range of activities and services, helping to strengthen community connections and improve opportunities for residents of all ages."

Plans for Fareham Park Community Centre, as well as details of the project phases, can be viewed at the Council’s website: www.fareham.gov.uk/farehampark.

The first two phases of the Fareham Park Community Centre vision have received a combined total of £750,000 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Transforming Fareham Park is a key priority set out in Fareham Borough Council’s Corporate Strategy: Leisure opportunities for wellbeing and fun.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.