Dismay and anger has greeted the ‘destruction’ in York’s Bootham Park as development work has started.
Long-standing trees have been felled as construction workers moved onto the estate in the last few days. And ground has been dug up to lay a new path.
But NHS Property Services says the work will deliver “public benefits”, preserve the site’s heritage and enable investment in the NHS. Its full statement is below.
Work had to begin on the site before the three-year limit on planning permission for the site lapsed today (Sunday, 17 May).
It comes 11 years after Bootham Park Hospital shut suddenly over concerns about patient safety. The Grade I listed building and grounds was then put up for sale by NHS Property Services.
That was despite a campaign to keep it in public hands.
Developer Enterprise Retirement Living received planning permission to turn Bootham Park into a luxury retirement complex, but later pulled out.
In recent weeks two other companies, Timeless Collection Holdings Ltd and Stonehouse Projects Limited, have applied to change conditions of that planning permission – and now work has begun.
Barrie Stephenson, chair of the Claremont Terrace Residents’ Association, the street that backs onto Bootham Park, watched the work begin.
He also took the main picture above, and said: “Two days ago three beautiful elegant silver birch trees stood here, within the grounds of Bootham Park Hospital.
“This morning I was horrified to see they had been cut down. How many more trees will be destroyed as the developers’ bulldozers move in on the park?
“The entire area is within a conservation area and as such permission should be sought before and work on trees. I have made a report to the council.”
Many have been commenting on social media about the situation. One said: “Oh my god, my favourite trees – I call them ‘the three graces’.
“I am so sickened to see this news.”
It comes three weeks after York Central MP Rachael Maskell raised the situation at Prime Minister’s Questions.
In 1777, Bootham Park had been given in trust to the people of York, but Ms Maskell said NHS Property Services had spent £5.5 million keeping it open to try and sell it to a private developer.
She told the PM: “This much sought-after community space for charities and services would significantly benefit York residents. So will the Prime Minister now release this site so public land can be used for public good, and we get Bootham back?”
Although work in the grounds has begun within the planning permission time remit, campaigners point out that the Listed Building Consent expired for work on the house on 5 May.
They are challenging any changes to the building on that basis.
‘Deliver best value’
A spokesperson for NHS Property Services said: “The hospital 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 and reinvest funds directly into the NHS.
“We are pleased to start work to facilitate a programme of public benefits at the site which will preserve heritage assets, enhance cycling and pedestrian access, and deliver new high-quality sports provision for local schools and the wider community.
“We will work closely with partners and contractors to minimise any disruption.
“These improvements are a condition of the planning approval that will give the site a sustainable new future, and we are keen to deliver these public benefits early to springboard the delivery of the main building back into productive use.”
