Former Blackpool hospital site acquired for redevelopment

Maple Grove Developments, part of the Preston-based Eric Wright Group, has completed the acquisition of a former hospital site in Blackpool from Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust (LCFT) in a deal worth £1.05m.

Located at the junction of Talbot Road and Devonshire Road, to the North East of Blackpool town centre, the 3.7-acre site was home to Devonshire Road hospital before it was decommissioned in 2007 and then demolished.

Recently the site has been let to the local council and used as a car park until the lease expired in 2016.

Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove Developments, said: “The site is on a prominent junction and within close proximity to the Queen’s Park regeneration area, which is currently being redeveloped to create 191 new homes.

“The Devonshire Road hospital was well known locally, and we are proud to be involved in bringing the site back into use and continuing the regeneration of this area of the town.

“With the site now under our ownership, we will look towards submitting a planning application in Spring.

Suzanne Wood, property asset manager at Healthcare Support & Infrastructure Services (HSIS), said: “The disposal of the site will allow LCFT to reinvest the capital in improving performance and patient experience in its operational healthcare property assets.

“In Maple Grove we have found a highly-responsible and trusted developer with a strong track record in regenerating areas in communities, especially in Blackpool, and we look forward to seeing the site transform.”

Formed in 2018, Healthcare Support & Infrastructure Services (HSIS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, a mental health and community services NHS Trust in the North West.

Maple Grove Developments was unrepresented.