Bootham Park Hospital could become the site of an independent living development for older people.

Council leaders are set to consider the next steps to secure public access, better cycle and pedestrian paths and other local priorities for the former Bootham Park hospital site.

Enterprise Retirement Living has been named as the preferred buyer by NHS property services.

The plans would create 125 independent living retirement homes and would secure public access to parts of the 1777 John Carr designed grade 1 hospital building, including the boardroom, gym and bowling alley.

The site is ideally located for older persons accommodation being within walking distance of all amenities including the hospital and railway station.

Land ownership at Bootham Park

A report published ahead of next Tuesday’s York Council Executive meeting outlines the options available to the council, based on local priorities and potential benefits identified during the extensive public and stakeholder engagement process.

The council says that it has been working closely with health partners to influence future development on the site.  “These efforts are set to be rewarded, with the site’s current and future owners due to talk with the council about public access, cycle paths, retaining more of the sale receipt locally and other priorities of York residents.   Air ambulance landing site and NHS use of the Chapel are set to continue, ERL and NHS Property Services (NHS PS) are set to ‘positively engage’ with the council over other key requests identified during recent consultations to influence the future of the site including public use of the Parkland”.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said:

“This is very encouraging news, and welcome reward for our approach to shaping the future development at Bootham Park.

“Our ambition has always been to make sure these historic buildings and grounds continue to serve our city, and we will continue to communicate the priorities of our residents with the new owners.“

The report asks Executive to agree that the Council will use its rights as owner of a strip of access road to secure b

  • beneficial public use of the parkland in front of the hospital building
  • Improved pedestrian and cycle routes through the site
  • Conservation and redevelopment to deliver homes and services which are of benefit to the city

City of York Council has been working with NHS Property Services, The York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Vale of York CCG to influence the site’s future.

This included a site development report informed by public and wider stakeholder consultation in 2018. The results of the 2019 consultation over this plan are contained within the Executive report, with 1657 comments identifying public access to the green spaces, key worker accommodation, better cycle and pedestrian pathways and suitability of any new buildings as the priority.

These activities were funded as part of the government’s One Public Estate programme, which supports public bodies to use public land and property to boost economic growth, supply housing and regeneration, and integrated public services.

Executive takes place at 17:30 on Wednesday 21 January at West Offices and will be webcast live at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Plans shared to shape future development on Bootham Park site

A map of the Bootham site showing area ownership

Residents and businesses can have their say on plans which could guide future developments on the former Bootham Park hospital site.

The former hospital site, which includes a series of Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings, is back on the market after a sale fell through earlier this year.

While City of York Council and local health partners do not own the site, they have joined forces to influence the plans of future owners.

The council and the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have included their own land to the north and east of the former hospital to show how a larger site could respond to the healthcare, housing, transport and green space needs of this area and the wider city.

The site development report was produced after consultation late last year, and shows how a sensitive and appropriate development could provide:

  • 147 dwellings
  • 52 key worker apartments
  • a new physiotherapy suite, medical training and research centre of excellence
  • a 70 bed care home
  • 60 assisted living/supported living apartments
  • a new children’s nursery
  • Multi-storey car parking to maintain existing parking capacity and open up the site
  • extensive public open space

Councillor Nigel Ayre, City of York Council executive member for finance and performance, said:

“The consultation last year confirmed how important the Bootham Park Hospital site is to York and its residents.

“It has been a focal point for the community and played a huge role in the city’s healthcare since the hospital building first opened its doors in 1777.

“While we don’t own the site we are exploring how to make sure that future developments respect that heritage and play a part in meeting some of York’s 21st Century challenges.

“So please take a look at the plans, give us your feedback and we’ll use them to influence future owners of the site.”

You have until Friday 11 October to make your comments on all elements of this proposal.

You can see all the details and join the conversation in a number of ways.

Exhibitions (available from Tuesday 17 September)

  • City of York Council’s West Offices, Station Rise, YO1 6GA
  • The foyer of York Hospital, Wigginton Road, YO31 8HE

Meet the team and talk through the proposals at these events:

  • Tuesday 17 September 3pm to 6pm, Marriott Room, York Explore, Library Square, YO1 7DS
  • Saturday 21 September, 1pm to 4pm, York City Church, Citadel YO31 7EA
  • Wednesday 25 September, 4pm to 7pm, York City Church, Citadel YO31 7EA
  • Tuesday 1 October, 2pm to 5pm, York City Church, Citadel YO31 7EA

You can see all the details and find a link to an online survey (also available from 17 September) through the council website, or join the conversation on social media.

www.york.gov.uk/BoothamPark

facebook      BoothamParkYork 

twitter           @boothamparkyork 

Health, care and housing plans for Bootham Hospital site

Public sector partners say that they will propose a sustainable and achievable development master plan for the Bootham Hospital site.

It will “support the longer term sustainable delivery of a range of service to meet health and social care need”s.

Using monies granted by the government under the One Public Estate programme, the partnership will prepare a Site Development Plan. This will examine the constraints and opportunities of the site and will involve extensive stakeholder and public engagement.

A schedule of public consultation is being planned for this autumn to focus on the future of the 240-year-old site – one of the UK’s first mental health hospitals.

The partnership has been working on plan for a number of months and it could include:

  • the development of a residential / nursing care facility to support earlier discharge and relieve pressures on acute care
  • a new primary care / GP base, bringing together practices into a single building and provide an urgent care centre and voluntary sector led space for carers and others who need support
  • affordable housing targeted to key worker to support NHS staffing
  • an extra care facility, particularly care for those living with dementia
  • improved access to the York Teaching Hospital for pedestrians, bikes, buses, taxis and ambulances; and
  • better use of the parkland at the front of the historic hospital building for sport, play and leisure

Bootham Park Hospital closure – York Council reacts

Bootham parkA report will be presented to City of York Council’s Executive on 24 November, recommending actions to be taken by three health agencies following the closure of Bootham Park Hospital.

The hospital closed in September 2015 after an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Following this, the Health & Adult Social Care Policy & Scrutiny Committee agreed to undertake a scrutiny review of the closure utilising the support of an independent expert and NHS England, which was conducting its own review.

The review’s remit was: ‘To understand the circumstances leading to the closure of Bootham Park Hospital, to establish what could have been done to avoid the gap in services in York, particularly for in-patients and their families, and identify any appropriate actions for relevant partners.’

The Committee, independent adviser and a task group carried out an extensive consultation which included all health partners and, via Healthwatch York, mental health service user in the city, their families, carers and staff.

Among the feedback, service users, their carers and families told the consultation that the closure of Bootham Park Hospital was part of a wider capacity and suitability issue for local mental health services and they told of the additional stress caused by having to travel to Darlington, Middlesbrough and beyond, However, most respondents had been happy with staff and the quality of care at Bootham, but expressed concern over the apparent lack of co-operation between agencies delivering services.

The review’s findings led to the following recommendations for Executive to consider:

  • NHS England – a named individual should be responsible for and report on sustained improvements to mental health services in York, that there is a full list of bodies delivering these services and that proactive engagement takes place with residents and service users.
  • Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) and the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) – should consult robustly and fully ahead of procuring a new mental health unit in York and that details are shared with the committee.
  • The Care Quality Commission (CQC) – should consider how best to transfer services between providers.
  • The Committee requests that these organisations respond to it within three months.
  • The Policy and Scrutiny Committee also agreed that the final report and its recommendations should be brought to council’s Executive and the Health and Wellbeing Board, before being presented to NHS England, TEWV, the CCG and CQC.

Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health at City of York Council, said: “This review enabled councillors to investigate the issues around the closure of Bootham Park Hospital and has made recommendations for actions to be taken by the relevant health agencies. Key points included the need for greater co-operation between agencies delivering services and the need for a robust consultation ahead of the opening a new mental health unit.

“York has a longstanding reputation for delivering progressive, high quality mental health services. I hope this review and its recommendations will support multi-agency work to restore them to a high level and I look forward to working with partners to achieve this.”

Executive will take place on Thursday 24 November at West Offices and is open to members of the public or is available to watch live online from: www.york.gov.uk/webcasts

To attend the meeting, or to read the report click