Government urged to intervene over former hospital

Efforts to begin work on redeveloping a former psychiatric hospital in York which shut 11 years ago have prompted calls to retain it for public use.

The city council has agreed to extend the deadline for works on the 18th Century Bootham Park Hospital to August to avoid planning permission expiring for a project to develop it into a 172-bed retirement complex.

Developers Stonehouse Projects Ltd and DRK Planning Ltd wrote to the council saying they were set to begin required work under permissions granted in 2023.

York Central's Labour MP Rachael Maskell has urged the government to intervene to keep the hospital in community hands.

Maskell told the House of Commons on Wednesday the site had been given in trust to the people of York when it was built in 1777.

"I highlighted the case yesterday to the prime minister, noting the costs to the public of keeping the building empty for the last 11 years; this is almost the same as the original sale price," she said.

"I've petitioned Parliament and raised the issue repeatedly with previous governments.

"Now, if there is any chance of keeping this asset in public hands, I want the government to pursue it and am following up my question by meeting the responsible government ministers."

Responding to Maskell, Sir Keir Starmer said he knew the site was hugely significant for the people of York and ministers would be happy to work on the case.

Health minister Karin Smyth said the costs of maintaining the buildings and grounds had been £5.5m since 2018 and covered "maintenance, security and insurance across the site".

That included the chapel which is used by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

"NHS Property Services continues to progress plans to sell the site, which would bring these ongoing holding costs to an end," she said.

However, NHS Property Services said the site had been up for sale for many years with no offers from the public sector.

"NHS Property Services is obliged to sell it in order to deliver best value for the NHS as a whole and reinvest funds into the NHS," a spokesperson said.

"It is now under offer and when completed would secure public access and local schools with sports facilities and a new cycle path, whilst enabling a long-term viable use for a heritage building."

The 7.23 hectare site, including the Grade I listed 18th Century hospital building designed by architect John Carr, was put on the market weeks after planning permission was granted.

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