Vision unveiled for £14m Burnley hospital scheme
Social housing provider Calico Group wants to redevelop the derelict former Burnley General Hospital on Briercliffe Road into 90 extra care apartments and a community hub.
Aimed at people over the age of 55, the £14m residential development would be the first of its kind in Burnley, according to Burnley-based Calico.
The scheme is intended to provide specialist assisted living accommodation in a neighbourhood setting, aimed at improving people’s quality of life and reducing social isolation, according to the housebuilder.
Calico is working to develop the proposals alongside Lancashire County Council, which targets the construction of 1,000 extra care units across the county by 2025.
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Burnley Council are also supporting the development. The NHS trust transferred ownership of the site to Calico to facilitate the scheme.
A planning application for the first phase of work is expected to be submitted early in 2021.
A second development phase would provide further housing for people with specialist needs and Calico is working with its partners to flesh out this part of the proposal, it said.
Wendy Malone, director of development of Calico Homes, added: “We are committed to investing in Burnley, and this development will help to create and safeguard a significant number of jobs at a time of economic uncertainty.
“This is an opportunity to work collaboratively, providing homes and specialist services to people in a setting where they have access to everything they need and the right support on hand.”
James Maguire, director of estates and facilities at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is the first development of its type in the area, a hugely important project for all the stakeholders involved who all share the same aim, to serve the people of East Lancashire.”
