NHS urged to retain Victorian frontage at new centre

NHS health bosses have been urged to preserve the historic frontage of a Hinckley hospital in its proposal for a new £10.5m medical facility.

The NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board plans to build the day case unit on the existing Hinckley and District Hospital, in Mount Road.

The leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has now written a letter to the board expressing his "deep disappointment" the Victorian frontage will be demolished as part of the plans.

The board said it was unable to retain the frontage due to clinical requirements of the development but planned to include some materials from the current building.

The new facility is designed to deliver services including gynaecology, urology and plastic surgery and will be linked to the new community diagnostic centre at the site.

A planning application to demolish the entire hospital was submitted to the borough council earlier this month.

In his letter, council leader Stuart Bray said he "warmly" welcomed improved NHS facilities in the town following decades of campaigning but urged the board to "look at the plans again" and offered to hold discussions.

He wrote: "Having now seen the plans for the new day care centre, I want to express my deep disappointment that they include the demolition of the Victorian cottage hospital which has stood on Mount Road for centuries and is part of my hometown's heritage.

"I cannot believe it is not possible to retain the older parts of the frontage of the hospital and develop the new modern facilities that residents deserve, behind the Victorian facade.

"Many people have contacted me to express concerns over your plan. I know these concerns will not be new to you as I believe such concerns were raised as part of the public consultation."

In a statement the board said: "The option of retaining the Victorian frontage of the hospital unfortunately would have meant that the business care objectives and clinical requirements for the development of the new facilities would not be met.

"The proposed materials do include reclaimed bricks from the current building and we consider that the heritage impact of the scheme will be outweighed by the benefits to the public.

"We are also working with a local historian on plans to display images inside and outside of the new building, charting its long history."

A public consultation period is under way on the council's website and will run until 13 June.

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