Listed buildings guarantee at hospital site

7:20am Saturday 29th June 2013 in Countywide news

ASSURANCES have been made to residents concerned about redevelopment of a historic hospital site.

Alarms were raised over the building work at the St John’s Hospital site in Wood Street, Chelmsford, regarding some structures being pulled down as 175 homes are constructed.

These included the old maternity unit where thousands of babies were born from the 1920s before the site closed in November 2010 when services transferred to Broomfield Hospital.

Plans from both Linden Homes and Inland Homes stated facades of historic listed buildings there would remain but worries were voiced by locals after part of the maternity unit was knocked down.

However, bosses from both developers have said there are no plans to demolish the listed and historic buildings completely, although some restructural work is required.

Paul Brett, land director at Inland Homes, said: “Inland held two very well attended public exhibition events in advance of our planning applications last year and we were struck by the depth of local feeling for the former St John’s Hospital and maternity unit.

“Inland acknowledged it has symbolic importance for Chelmsford residents and that’s why we’re reconstructing it and making it a central part of the new development.“

A spokeswoman for Linden Homes added: “We’re developing the St John’s site in accordance with the planning agreement, as approved by the local authorities.

“We’ll be working closely with conservation officers and the local planning authorities to ensure the character and features of the old iconic buildings are restored and maintained wherever possible, while bringing St John’s into a modern living space which caters for all needs and tastes.”

Linda Mascot, Lib Dem councillor for Goat Hall, the ward where the hospital site is located, said she was pleased to see the facades being kept.

She added: “I was born at the hospital as were my own children and grandchildren, so I know what an important site it is to the city.

“It’s become a bit of a white elephant over recent years so it’ll be good to see some much needed family homes and social housing there.”

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Comments(1)

Jack222

says…

3:23pm Sat 29 Jun 13

We have too many listed buildings. Keep the facade and let them do what they like inside.
Jack222

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