First-class housing plans for hospital staff unveiled

May 9 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

MORE than 250 properties could be built for hospital staff in Southport and Ormskirk.

In an attempt to improve the accommodation it provides for junior doctors and other resident staff, Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has joined forces with Cosmopolitan Housing Group in a project that could see around 260 properties being built over both hospital sites.

Of these, 124 will be managed by Cosmopolitan Housing Association.

If planning permission is obtained, the development would be a mix of affordable houses, key worker accommodation and market houses.

Cosmopolitan would build and operate the accommodation as social landlords on land provided by the Trust. The project could start in 2010 in Southport and earlier in Ormskirk.

Sir Ron Watson, the trust chairman, said: “It is still very early days yet, but we are in discussions with the council to determine the best way to bring this project to fruition, as ultimately it will provide first-class accommodation for our junior doctors and resident staff.”

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “We are in discussions with the trust about these plans but no formal application has been submitted.”