Developments near new hospital 'to be revisited'

Plans for projects near a new hospital will be revisited when a construction timeline for the facility is confirmed, a developer says.

Shotley Bridge Hospital, in Consett, County Durham, was given the go-ahead in January after several delays.

Work on potential nearby developments, which are part of a wider regeneration scheme, had been held up as a result - including housing for elderly people.

Mike Clark, director of landowners Project Genesis Ltd, said the plans would hopefully move forward once there was a timescale for the hospital.

The proposal could see homes built next to the facility.

The local housing association, Karbon Homes, previously said conversations about "an apartment scheme for older people" on land next to the new hospital started years ago.

Other possible schemes which had been discussed as part of the larger development include a gym, children's swimming pool, vet practice and a hotel.

Mr Clark said the developers had done "detailed designs for a lot of those potential developments", but were not able to commit before the hospital was confirmed.

"Once we have a firm grip on what the hospital timescale is, we will then revisit first Karbon Homes and at the same time we will start talking to potential other end users," he said.

Mr Clark said under a development agreement, Project Genesis Ltd would prepare the former steelworks site and put infrastructure in place before construction of the hospital began.

Mr Clark said he was "pleased and massively relieved" the new unit had been approved.

The 16-bed inpatient rehabilitation ward and urgent treatment centre will replace the current facility in Shotley Bridge.

"We're just looking forward to cracking on," Mr Clark said. "The sooner, the better.

"We will work as quickly as the government, the NHS and the health trust want to work."

Kevin Earley, secretary of Shotley Bridge Hospital Support Group, said people had stopped him in Consett and messaged from abroad to express their joy over the new hospital.

The unit had been thrown into doubt last year when it was put on a list of "uncosted projects", which was under review.

"We were getting to a stage where some people were beginning to lose hope. I think everybody is just relieved," Mr Earley said.

He said he hoped building the hospital would also help create apprenticeship opportunities in construction and healthcare.

Mr Earley added there were also ideas for a statue in the vicinity of the hospital to commemorate women who worked in steelworks.

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