Residents are being invited to have their say on exciting plans to boost health, leisure, training and employment opportunities in South Bristol - with consultation leaflets being delivered to more than 62,000 homes and a series of exhibitions on the proposals being held between September 18 and 22.

Proposals for the first stage of developments at Hengrove Park aim to deliver a £45 million South Bristol Community Hospital; a £21m ‘Healthplex’ sports and swimming centre; a £30m Skills Academy and a new 19,000 square metre European headquarters for Computershare, the world’s only global share registry.

The council recently agreed to set aside up to £2m of its own capital resources to kick start access works to open up the site, subject to planning permission.

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If the scheme gets the go-ahead, it would see the new hospital and ‘healthplex’ leisure centre linked via a new public open space – providing a joined up approach to promoting fitness and good health across the surrounding community. The hospital is programmed to open in summer 2009 and the leisure centre would open its doors in spring 2010.

The new European headquarters for Computershare, would enable one of the largest employers in the area to stay in South Bristol. Some 1,400 people are currently employed at the company’s existing HQ at The Pacilions off Bedminster Down. Negotiations between the city council and the company are continuing.

All facilities on the site would be served by a new access road from Whitchurch Lane; a bus terminus to deliver improved public transport links; cycle facilities and car parking - all to be completed by autumn next year. Funding for the access infrastructure is expected to be confirmed by South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) later this year.

Further phases of redevelopment on the former airfield are expected to include significant numbers of new housing units in order to meet government housing targets, tackle local housing shortages and help protect the green belt surrounding the city. Details have yet to be drawn up and will subject to extensive public consultation once they are published in 2008.

(JM)