A NEW community centre has been handed over to a borough council after construction was completed.

Property developer, Highwood has handed over the new community centre at North Stoneham park to Eastleigh Borough Council and the YMCA now that construction is complete and the centre is now set to open its doors in May. 

Home to a day nursery, café and a community centre offering a community hall, youth room, health space and meeting rooms, the local centre will be managed and operated by YMCA.

The developer claims the handover has taken place during "hugely challenging times" since the Covid pandemic effectively closed all construction sites from late March to May 2020.

Project teams have worked "tirelessly" with development partners and supply chains to ensure all schemes have remained on track whilst remaining compliant with the safety guidelines.

Phil Prosser, Business Development Director at Highwood, said: "It is with great pleasure that Highwood has reached practical completion of this unique building.

"It will undoubtedly become a valuable community asset, functioning as a community centre and nursery for up to 95 children and the residents and wider Eastleigh community will benefit greatly from it."