Work starts at row hospital
Barratt Homes have started work at Lichfield's Victoria Hospital despite uncertainty on the facade's status.
The Express & Star has revealed that an English Heritage decision not to give listed status was being reviewed.
Barratt says it will continue to develop the site in line with planning consent originally given. David Simpson, of the firm, said workers were on site but no demolition had started.
"We have commenced preparatory work consisting of soft strip, which involves removing equipment from the buildings and the removal of asbestos material, in accordance with local authority notices", he said.
"We acquired the site from the local Primary Care Trust, with the benefit of planning consent for residential development and it is our intention to develop the site in line with this consent."
Plans may have to change if culture minister David Lammy causes a u-turn from English Heritage who originally refused to grant listed status to the building.
Barratt had announced it would demolish all the hospital but, in a letter to Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, Mr Lammy, said the original English Heritage decision was being "re-considered."
Mr Fabricant said giving the facade listed status would still allow flats to be built behind it.
