Update: 2 July 2026 – It might have come as a surprise to Havant Borough Council that Homes England were putting this site up for sale by auction. In any event, we’ve noticed that it was either withdrawn from the auction of 17 June or failed to meet its reserve value. In any event, it’s now back up for auction on 5 August 2026. The details below still apply.
After several years standing vacant and with previous marketing efforts failing to secure a buyer, the site has now been placed into auction by Lambert Smith Hampton as an Industrial Development Opportunity, with a guide price set between £1.25 million and £1.5 million.
To view the full detail in the auction catalogue, click the image above. The text below contains two sections copied directly from that catalogue entry, with key sentences emphasised by HCS:
“Location
The Former Colt International Site is prominently located at the junction of New Lane and Bartons Road on the established North Havant Industrial Estate, benefitting from strong frontage and excellent access to the surrounding employment area. Havant is a busy and densely populated town in South East Hampshire, situated approximately 6 miles north‑east of Portsmouth and around 12 miles west of Chichester, with a borough population understood to be in excess of 120,000.
The site is approximately 1.5 miles north of the A27 at Langstone, providing swift connectivity to the strategic road network, including the A3(M) and M27 via the Broadmarsh Interchange, providing convenient access along the South Coast and northwards towards Guildford, the M25 and London.
Havant town centre and the mainline railway station are a short drive to the south, providing regular direct services to London Waterloo (typically around 75–76 minutes). Portsmouth International Port and the Royal Navy Dockyard are also within an approximate 15‑minute drive of the site.
The location benefits from a large and skilled labour pool, with a range of established occupiers in the wider area, including Eaton Aerospace, Amazon and Kenwood De’Longhi.
Planning Status
The site previously benefited from outline planning consent for up to ten new business units totalling approximately 2,860 sq m (30,785 sq ft). This formed part of a wider mixed‑use planning application (ref. APP/18/00244), which also permitted up to 100 residential units on adjoining land. The outline consent was granted on 30 January 2019. Following subsequent reserved matters approval, the residential phase has now been developed.
The original outline planning permission has now lapsed, and interested parties should therefore make their own enquiries in respect of any future development potential for the employment land.“
A quick opinion survey
The new landowner will be submitting plans to Havant Borough Council for the development of this site. In your personal opinion, what would you prefer this site to be used for?
A quick survey snapshot after 24 hours
The following pattern emerged from 680 views resulting in 47 votes:
Here are a selection of the comments received:
“Difficult to answer when I don’t know what the demand is for industrial units, I need that knowledge to inform my answer. Whichever is built, good to have it on a brownfield site.”
“Currently an eyesore, however it’s always been for industrial development and there may be underlying issues from previous use.”
“Noticed bats and swifts have disappeared since site was demolished.”
“Needs to be medical premises .a walking service as our local drs and hospitals are over crowded because there isn’t enough drs etc”
“With any luck it will be a doctor’s surgery, a couple of dentists and a school but I’m not holding my breath…..”
“How about a different style of housing, more affordable to build possibilities included prefabricated in a factory, sustainable builds including alternative build materials? Self build?”
“Allow for more places of work for the community”
“The area is in need of affordable one bed flats. There are too many young adults forced to pay extortionate rents for one bedroom in hmos. Let’s start looking after single people. I don’t think there is enough help out there for them.”
“Ideally a shop there’s a lot of people who lives on the estate by the land who doesn’t drive.”
“No to Housing due to lack of Housing infrastructure in area, especially with new housing already in the area. Would make better sense to use for Industrial Site as already on an Industrial Estate.”
“Costa drive through!”