WORK is about to start on a major conservation and homebuilding project at St Leonards near Ringwood.

The project aims to protect precious heathland habitats and wildlife, while also providing 210 new homes.

The scheme, on the site of a derelict former Second World War military hospital at St Leonards, will include a range of affordable housing and care facilities.

But the less obvious beneficiaries of this new scheme are the new habitats that will be created for the threatened wildlife that were once common on this now neglected land.

The site, which is owned by the Homes and Communities Agency, will be transformed as part of a joint project by developers Spectrum Housing Group, the HCA and Natural England together with the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Species such as smooth snakes, sand lizards, acid grassland, green winged orchids, nightjars and even a “maternity unit” for bats will be given priority within the development over the coming years.

Built in the 1940s, the hospital was once used for military staff and then civilian patients.

The site be developed to include 210 one to four bed homes, including 84 affordable homes, and an 80-bed care home.

However a large portion of the land will be devoted to a Site of Nature Conservation Interest - which means when restored, the site will have a valuable nature reserve, a landscaped recreational area for residents as well as an important heathland habitat.

Spectrum Housing Group has secured some £500,000 to maintain the conservation of the area over the next 50 years, with ownership of the conservation area handed over to the Dorset Wildlife Trust to manage in the future.

Paul Read, director of development at Spectrum said: “We are delighted to be providing much needed affordable homes for local people and are thrilled that we can also provide essential habitats for threatened wildlife and open space for the community to enjoy.”

Nick Squirrell, Natural England advisor for the site, said: “Natural England is delighted with the outcome of this development as it secures a substantial biodiversity gain in an area that has seen significant declines over recent years.

"The potential for substantial restoration is fantastic and this habitat will be restored to a high standard over a seven year period.

"It is a considerable win for precious heathland habitat and everyone is delighted that important habitats and species will be able to make an encouraging resurgence in an area that has suffered considerable neglect.”