Housing plan for hospital ground

A plot of land in the grounds of a former Black Country hospital is likely to be sold to a housing developer within four years, it is revealed today.

The area called Lakeview Close, next to what was St Margaret’s Hospital, on the Walsall/Sandwell border, has been included in a list released by The Department of Health of sites expected to be sold by 2011.

The list features a number of the “larger sites in the ownership of the Secretary of State for Health”.  

The portion of land is just a small part of the vast site in Queslett Road, Great Barr, which is being developed by Bovis Homes.

Around 450 flats and houses are being built in the grounds, part of which is a nature reserve with two lakes, woodland and small areas of marsh vegetation.

It has not been confirmed when the land will be put on the open market or if a buyer has already expressed an interest in acquiring it.

In a Commons written answer, health minister Ben Bradshaw said: “For those sites with housing potential, the requirement for the provision of social housing will need to be negotiated and agreed with the local planning authority.”

The site called Lakeview Close was made up of three pre-fabricated buildings which were used by Walsall teaching Primary Care Trust up until around three years ago.

When the buildings were emptied of staff, furniture and equipment the land was returned to NHS Estates for The Department of Health to dispose of.