Rowner

A post-war housing estate undergoing significant regeneration, with new community facilities, access to Alver Valley Country Park, and proximity to HMS Sultan.

Rowner is a large residential estate in the western part of Gosport, originally built in the 1950s and 1960s to provide housing for naval families and workers in the expanding post-war town. The estate was a product of its era, with system-built housing, open-plan layouts, and a neighbourhood centre providing shops and community facilities. By the early 2000s, much of the original housing had deteriorated, and Rowner became the focus of one of Hampshire's most significant regeneration programmes. The Alver Village scheme, developed by the Ministry of Defence and housing associations, demolished large sections of the old estate and replaced them with new homes, a community centre, and improved public spaces. The regeneration has transformed parts of Rowner, though the process has been gradual and some areas still show the character of the original development. Rowner Road and Nimrod Drive are the main routes through the area. St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Rowner Junior School serve local families. The Holbrook Recreation Centre, on the edge of the estate, provides a swimming pool, gym, and sports facilities that serve the wider borough. Alver Valley Country Park, accessible from the southern edge of Rowner, provides extensive green space, lakes, and walking routes that connect through to Lee-on-the-Solent. The park is a valuable amenity for the neighbourhood and has helped to improve the area's appeal. HMS Sultan, the Royal Navy's principal marine engineering training establishment, sits adjacent to Rowner and is one of the largest employers in the borough. The military connection has always been strong here, and many Rowner residents have ties to the naval base.