The former site that was once home to St John’s Hospital in Chelmsford could have 300 new homes built on it, after a property development company bought half of the 13 acre site last week.
Property developer Inland PLC, which specialises in redeveloping brownfield sites, bought the land after it recently had gone up for sale, although work is not expected to start for another 18 months.
Plans for the site include building houses and apartments, refurbishing some of the 19th Century hospital buildings and creating new commercial and community spaces.
The hospital, which dates back to the 1920s, closed its doors last November after the last of its services transferred to Broomfield Hospital.
The council and Inland PLC are anxious to make sure residents are kept well informed and consulted throughout the plans.
Liberal Democrat ward councillors Linda Mascot and Freda Mountain have said they are very keen to make sure residents living around the Wood Street site are “consulted at every opportunity” and that a mix of homes is built on the site.
Cllr Mascot said: “We are really keen for lots of green space and to make sure the residents are kept up to date with everything going on and to make sure the consultation is done properly.
“There is also a real lack of community facilities on the site and we would like to see the community hall which was on the site restored when it is all finished.”
Paul Brett, land director for Inland, ensured he would do his utmost to consult Chelmsford residents and the councillors.
He added: “We are going to restore some of the older buildings on the site and create apartments in those. The main building, which is the most attractive, has fallen into a great state of disrepair and lots needs to be done before it is restored.
“We will be doing all we can to keep the community and ward councillors involved and part of that will be public exhibitions to showcase what we are doing.”
