Football pitches will be created at York’s Bootham Park as part of a package of ‘public benefits’.
As YorkMix reported earlier this month, a number of local people were dismayed to see mature trees chopped down in the park as the redevelopment began.
Work had to start this month before planning permission ran out to turn the historic Bootham Park Hospital into a luxury retirement complex.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell has led a campaign to keep the 1777 estate in public hands after the psychiatric hospital was shut suddenly 11 years ago.
But NHS Property Services said they had a duty to sell it and invest the proceeds into the health service.
The work underway now is the start of a programme of public benefits at the site, which are mandated as part of the conditions of the planning permission.
New football pitches, including both 11-a-side and 7-a-side facilities, will be created. These pitches will be made available to York schools and the wider community, with Bootham School managing and maintaining them.
The pitches will meet Sport England standards and require a comprehensive package of drainage, resurfacing and ground infrastructure improvements.
As part of the works, restoration and maintenance will also take place to the historic railings around the site.
A new cycle path is being constructed, running across the site from Union Terrace. Traffic calming measures will also be implemented to enhance safety.
New benches and bins will be added.
The initial programme of works is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete, including time for the new sports pitches to establish.
Adrian Powell, director of investment at NHS Property Services, said: “We are pleased to facilitate a programme of public benefits at the Bootham Park Hospital 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, and we are keen to deliver these public benefits early, to springboard the delivery of the main building back into productive use.”
There is no word yet as to when work will begin to turn the Grade I listed Bootham Park Hospital into retirement flats.
