Homes and jobs boost on Leicestershire hospital site

Plans for 120 new homes on the site of the historic Towers Hospital in Leicester will create construction jobs and boost the local economy.

Award-winning developer Redrow Homes has purchased a 12 acre parcel of land at the former hospital in Gipsy Lane from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT).

Matthew Pratt, managing director for Redrow Homes (Midlands), commented: “The acquisition of part of the former hospital site is a major investment for Redrow and adds to our expanding portfolio in Leicestershire. We have recently launched two new developments – The Orchards at Glenfield and Thorpe Meadow in Countesthorpe, both of which offer good access to Leicester and the M1 motorway.

“Our plan is to transform the site to provide circa 120 homes from our sought-after New Heritage Collection of traditional looking, Arts & Crafts influenced family homes. As well as improving the choice of homes available locally this will also boost the local economy by providing employment for construction workers and the supply chain.”

The land already has outline consent for residential development and, subject to detailed approval, Redrow hopes to start building work in January 2013 on a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. They’ll be situated in a prime residential area, close to Hamilton town centre and within easy reach of Leicester city centre.

“Our New Heritage Collection homes are already hugely popular with buyers who want the charm and character of a ‘period’ property but the style and convenience of a brand new home,” Matthew added.

“This can be seen at The Orchards, in Glenfield, where we are building just 12 large and luxurious four and five-bedroom detached homes and at Thorpe Meadow, in Countesthorpe, where we have planning permission for 168 family homes.”

Trust Chief Executive John Short welcomed the move by Redrow Homes to buy part of the site and said: “We want to deliver healthcare in a modern, appropriate and progressive environment and by selling the Towers site for redevelopment, funds can be reinvested to provide better facilities for both patients and staff.

“The Towers site no longer functions as a hospital. Some of the old buildings are no longer used and the site is expensive to maintain.”

Income from previous sales of parts of the 24 acre site has already been used to develop a centre of excellence for acute mental health hospital care on the Glenfield Hospital site: upgraded wards and improved patient facilities at the Bradgate Unit and Bennion Centre have already opened.

Further sales are expected to take place over the next three years, with a former nurses’ home and George Hine House already on the market for redevelopment. Historic and architecturally significant parts of the Towers site are protected within outline planning permission.

A small number of clinical outpatient services are currently located on the site and these will in due course move to more appropriate accommodation alongside other patient services. The Trust anticipates vacating the site in planned phases by the end of 2015.

For more information about Redrow see redrow.co.uk.