Flagship development at Oxfordshire hospital sites

Redundant hospital site in Oxfordshire is set to become a flagship development in English Partnerships' hospital sites programme.

A redundant hospital site in Oxfordshire is set to become a flagship development in English Partnerships' hospital sites programme.

The restoration and conversion of a range of historic buildings, and the retention of historic parkland is planned for Fair Mile Hospital in Cholsey, near the town of Wallingford.

The site, totalling around 40 ha contains a number of Grade II listed buildings and is included on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

English Partnerships plans to maintain the historic significance of this site, making full use of the existing buildings wherever possible, and is now looking for a development partner to create a vibrant new community.

The Fair Mile Hospital is being marketed together with Celsea Place, a smaller parcel of land situated nearby to become a new community of homes with the highest standards of design, quality and sustainability.

The two sites form part of a major Hospital Sites Programme, being run by English Partnerships that aims to bring 96 former hospital sites back into productive use.

Nationally the programme aims to deliver up to 14,000 new homes, including homes for first time buyers.

The majority of buildings on the Fair Mile Hospital site are of red brick and the main hospital buildings, lodge house and chapel, built in 1870, are listed Grade II.

It is anticipated that the non-listed buildings worthy of retention are to be restored and made available for a variety of uses.

Undeveloped land, which is either of historic interest or lies between the buildings and the River Thames, will also be retained.

The site currently does not have planning permission, although South Oxfordshire District Council has allocated it for mostly residential use.

Development on the site will be of a high quality, meeting all of English Partnerships' design and quality standards for new build homes including EcoHomes very good, Secured by Design and Lifetime Homes.

Making use of renewable energy such as wind power and solar power and solar water heating is also likely to be required.

Both sites will be marketed as a single package and the chosen developer will be responsible for preparing a master plan for the site jointly with English Partnerships, consulting with the local community and securing planning permission.

The development programme will provide an opportunity for first time buyers to get on to the property ladder, as part of the affordable housing element.

David Ashworth, area director for English Partnerships said: "We are confident that, in partnership with the right developer, we can create a highly desirable place to live or work in these former hospital grounds".

"We are committed to putting as many of the current buildings as possible to good use, removing those that are beyond repair and creating a new environment which sits perfectly with the traditional surroundings to complement the wealth of historic interest in this part of Oxfordshire".

Advertisements of this development opportunity have appeared in the Official Journal of the European Union to invite expressions of interest.

A shortlist will then be drawn up with a developer selection anticipated in August 2006.

The hospital sites programme comprises 96 sites no longer required by the Department of Health.

An initial tranche of 67 sites were transferred, with the remainder due to come across during the next two years.

The portfolio, totalling 1,600 ha of land, offers a mixture of development opportunities across England.

English Partnerships has now put in place a plan to ensure the best future use of the portfolio and how it can contribute to government policy to create sustainable communities and in particular to increase level of affordable homes.

This includes first time buyers and key workers.

It is estimated that the sites offer the potential to build up to 14,000 new homes, of which approximately half - 7,000 - will be affordable.

The EcoHomes standard to be applied to these developments provides an authoritative rating for new, converted or renovated homes, and covers both houses and apartments.

Secured by Design is a police initiative to encourage the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures in development design to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, creating a safer and more secure environment.

Homes designed to the principles of Lifetime Homes ensure a quality design that enables people to live easily however their lifestyles might change through the years.

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