PUBLIC consultation has finally got under way over the Leonard Cheshire FoundationÕs plans to redevelop Le Court at Greatham.

East Hampshire District Council sent out letters to 16 neighbouring residents in Greatham and Hawkley last Tuesday, alerting them to the four planning applications which make up the development proposals.

Greatham and Hawkley parish councils have also been invited to comment, as well as a number of other agencies including English Nature and the Environment Agency.

Under the proposals a new, smaller, care home would be built on the site of the original pre-1950s home of Le Court, to cater for and support up to 20 disabled residents.

It is hoped that the sale of other areas of land for private homes will help the Leonard Cheshire Foundation raise the necessary cash for its project, which it is believed will cost around £7 million.

This will be possible if three other applications, for housing at Le Court, are granted.

Outline permission is being sought to build 14 detached private family homes on the existing site of Le Court. Outline permission is also being sought to built another five detached homes nearby.

The fourth application submitted is seeking full permission to restore and convert the existing farm complex for use as eight private apartments and homes.

If the four applications succeed the foundation will forge ahead with the second phase of its plan - to build a new similar-sized care home near to Le Court, although a location has not yet been identified.

An integrated resource centre, a 24-hour supported housing scheme and a care at home service, providing support for disabled people living in their own homes in the area, will also be developed to make disabled people more independent, under plans to change the way that care is provided to the disabled.

The Leonard Cheshire Foundation expects the entire project to take up to four years to complete.

The new plans already have the backing of social services and the foundation has held a series of public exhibitions in Greatham promoting the applications.

South West Surrey MP Virginia Bottomley has written to EHDC supporting the plans.

But the four applications are expected to draw strong opinions from local residents and Le CourtÕs own residents who have been waiting on a knife edge for two years to learn the fate of the Greatham home.

Uncertainty has surrounded the fate of Le Court, the birthplace of the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, since The Herald revealed in April 2000 that its future was being examined.

The home does not comply with new government legislation enforcing a new minimum standard of care, so the foundation was left with two options - to close Le Court or redevelop it.

The foundation said that closure was ÒunthinkableÓ leaving redevelopment as the only option, but this sparked fears that some residents may be forced out of their homes against their will.

But the foundation believes that any fears have been allayed after a series of talks between itself, residents and their families.

p Anyone wishing to comment on the planning applications should write to case officer Jeremy Heppell by July 12 at East Hampshire District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield, GU31 4EX.