A HISTORIC building on Burton’s Queen’s Hospital site will not be afforded listed status — to the dismay of a councillor who has been championing its cause.

Julian Mott, Horninglow ward member and leader of the opposition on East Staffordshire Borough Council, said he was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ after English Heritage decided not to classify the former Burton Union Workhouse master’s house as a listed building.

The body, which advises the government on listing, said the building, known simply as ‘The House’, lacked the ‘special architectural or historic interest’ to justify listing.

Councillor Mott applied for listing status for the building, which houses the Queen’s patient advice and liaison service, fearing it could one day be demolished as part of the hospital’s future modernisation plans.

He told the Mail: “This is a very prominent building, is obviously quite historic being part of the old Burton Workhouse, is very attractive and in an area where there aren’t many old houses.

“Some years ago, the hospital held a public meeting and showed diagrams of what they wanted to do in the future — which included putting a road around the hospital site and demolishing The House.

“I’m very disappointed, but not surprised, that it hasn’t been listed, as it’s certainly more attractive than some other buildings which have been listed.” The House, built in the Tudor revival style, was erected in 1882 as part of the Burton Union Workhouse complex, replacing an earlier workhouse dating back to 1838.

The complex later became a public assistance institution and was transferred to the newly-formed NHS in 1948, with most of it demolished when the site was developed to make way for the new Burton District Hospital centre in the 1970s.

Helen Ashley, chief executive of Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust was not ruling out redeveloping the site occupied by The House at some point in the future.

She said: “The trust developed plans some time ago which included a review of The House and other buildings of a similar age.

“Since those plans were developed, we have not had cause to review them.

“However, the trust’s estate is subject to continual development as our services and the needs of the organisation change.

“If and when the time is right for the organisation we will look at the future of The House and other buildings to ensure their use is in line with our strategic objectives.”