£4m St George's Hospital scheme unveiled

Ambitious £4 million plans to save the historic St George's Hospital in Stafford and build more than 250 homes in its grounds have been submitted to the borough council.

The former mental asylum and Grade II listed building was devastated by a major fire in March and has been described by English Heritage as in a "perilous" condition.

Now, Pritchard Holdings, which has planning permission to convert the old building into 113 apartments, has teamed up with Bovis Homes in a multi-million pound deal to build 254 houses on the site, which will secure the future of the old hospital if planners give the go ahead.

St George's was singled out by English Heritage last year as being at risk of further decline and neglect.

The building dates back to 1818 and was one of only three similar hospitals built in England at the time to resemble a Georgian country house. It has been derelict since the mid-1990s.

The restoration and redevelopment plans have now been submitted to Stafford Borough Council as a joint venture between the two companies. The plans would begin with £4 million of initial repairs on the building to make it watertight and weatherproof, protecting it from further decline. Full internal renovation and refurbishment would follow.

The scheme also includes the building of more than 250 new Bovis Homes in the grounds, with access off Queensway and pedestrian links to Stafford town centre.

Planning permission was granted in 2007 to renovate the building and to convert it to 113 apartments, along with outline planning for residential development for new homes within the hospital grounds.

The latest application for 254 new homes will also include restoring the parkland setting and landscape as well as recreational improvements to the St George's conservation area.

Bob Evans, development director for Pritchard Holdings said: "If approved, these applications could at last secure the long term future of this very important site. Our latest layout and scheme details will, of course, be open to further discussion, debate and consultation."

Planning Manager for Bovis, Barry Herrod, added: "With careful design and sympathetic development, the St George's site could become a stunning and sought-after area in which to live, with the added benefit of saving and enhancing a piece of our architectural heritage."