Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve spans the River Meon as it flows into the Solent at Hill Head. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a RAMSAR site - a wetland of international importance - and a Special Protection Area for the wide range of birds that live in or visit the site. It was acquired by Hampshire County Council in 1972 and a successful lottery bid led to the opening of Haven House - built in about 1820 - as the Haven Visitor Centre in 1998. Since then, the Visitor Centre has enjoyed 85,000 visits a year, supporting the nature reserve and providing visitors, local and non-local alike with a much loved café and gallery space for local artists.

Hampshire County Council announced on 27 September 2022 its intention to close and sell Haven House Visitor Centre and the former warden's house Haven Cottage, which had been listed in January 2022, in order to raise funds to carry out works to the Haven.

Despite a massive campaign to oppose the closure and sale -which saw 13,600 signatures on the petition,  3000 emails and letters to the Executive Member concerned, and deputations to council meetings - Hampshire County Council took the decision on 8 December to close Haven House on 23 December 2022 and sell both it and Haven Cottage.
 

Their plans had to be held back, however, as on 11 November 2022 Fareham Borough Council had approved the listing of Haven House as an Asset of Community Value, meaning that Haven House could only be sold to a community interest group during the six months following the Council’s formal decision to sell.
 

On 15 March 2023, local residents formed Titchfield Haven Community Hub (THCH) Limited, a charitable community benefit society registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. THCH prepared a detailed, financially viable business plan to acquire Haven House and re-open and develop it as Titchfield Haven Community Hub, providing a café, gallery space, educational facilities and two holiday flats. THCH also secured offers of significant capital and revenue grant funding support from the Department for Levelling up and from a local charity. Meanwhile Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) had expressed its interest in acquiring both Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve and, possibly, Haven House.  HIWWT, working closely with THCH, developed a business plan for acquisition of the nature reserve.

 

However, Hampshire County Council rejected both plans and proceeded to market Haven House for sale.  Despite THCH submitting a further, improved bid for the Centre in November 2023, HCC announced in July 2024 that Haven House had been sold to a private local buyer who had expressed an intention to lease the property to a day nursery, part of Hopscotch Group.

 

The sale of Haven House to a private buyer means that the original purpose of THCH, to acquire Haven House for use as a community centre can no longer be fulfilled. Accordingly, on 23 September 2024 the members of THCH resolved to apply to the Financial Conduct Authority to cancel its registration and to distribute any assets remaining to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, which as of 23 September 2024 comprised £45 cash in bank.

 

As part of the preparation of their business plan, THCH had secured pledges from many supporters who indicated their willingness to donate or purchase community shares so as to enable THCH to purchase the property.  However, as the plan was rejected by HCC, no donations were collected or shares issued, other than small donations made to THCH or via Hill Head Residents’ Association or HIWWT, to facilitate preparation of the business plans.

 

May we repeat our warmest thanks and appreciation to all of those who provided so much support during the campaign – we could not have tried harder!