MINISTER of State for Housing and Planning, Brandon Lewis MP, has visited the award winning King Edward VII development near Midhurst.

He was given a tour of the listed sanitorium building and the new homes which were masterminded by heritage property developers City and Country.

This is a fantastic example of how developers can use previously developed sites to provide properties while also protecting the green spaces we all enjoy

Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Brandon Lewis

City and Country took on the restoration of the former hospital site which had been left empty for seven years after the closure of the hospital, as controversy raged over the future of the unique group of listed buildings.

It was the first major application to be decided by the new South Downs National Park Authority when permission was finally granted in November 2011, for 162 homes in the former sanitorium and a further 247 new homes to pay for the restoration of the historic buildings.

The planning permission contained a complex phasing arrangement so at each stage before new homes could be built, some restoration had to take place first.

City and Country sold parcels of land to two developers for new houses on the site which is now almost complete.

In 2014 the developers and the national park won a Royal Town Planning Institute South East award for best planning for natural and built heritage.

“It’s great to be here in national park to see how these historic buildings have been transformed into high quality homes,” said Mr Lewis.

“This is a fantastic example of how developers can use previously developed sites to provide properties while also protecting the green spaces we all enjoy.”

National park chairman Margaret Paren, said: “An innovative approach to phasing the restoration and construction of work, as well as making sure the developers and the community are talking to each other have helped to save these important buildings.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MidhurstandPetworthObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @mid_pet_obs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The Midhurst and Petworth Observer – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.