PERMISSION is being sought to build nearly 50 new homes on a former hospital site.

Story Homes has submitted plans to redevelop land at the former Dunston Hill Hospital, north of the Whickham Highway.

It is seeking permission to build 46 homes on the site, which has been earmarked by Gateshead Council for redevelopment.

The proposals include a mix of three, four and five-bedroom properties, providing a mix of “executive style” family homes while also delivering five three-bedroom affordable houses on site.

In November 2016, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust was granted outline planning permission for up to 35 properties on the former hospital site.

Story Homes’ planning manager, Richard Swann said this has been updated by the latest plans.

He said: “We are delighted to be able to bring forward our proposals for the redevelopment of this site, and with agreement from Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.

“In our planning applications, we are taking forward the existing reserved matters application with an updated site plan to secure the appearance, layout and landscaping to provide 35 units approved at outline; and a second detailed matters application to deliver 11 homes within the site’s walled garden as part of our wider proposals for the former hospital.

”This development will provide much needed executive family and affordable homes in Gateshead, helping the authority to meet its five-year housing land supply target and achieve one of its key aims of redeveloping derelict brownfield sites.

“We are renowned for designing high quality homes throughout the North East and for our striking street scenes on our developments. In the design of our proposal we have paid careful attention to the local area’s use of material and this will be highly visible when travelling around the development.”

The developer says the scheme will have benefits for the local economy during the construction phase as a result of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The council is expected to decide on the proposals next year.

Dunston Hill Hospital provided palliative care and mental health services for more than 50 years.

Originally established as a War Pensioner Hospital in 1928, it was controlled by the Ministry of Pensions until 1953 when it passed to the Ministry of Health, but it was not absorbed into the NHS until 1956.

In 2018 Gateshead Health NHS Trust announced it would move palliative care and dementia services, the final departments that used the building, to another location.

At the time Andy Beeby, medical director, said the site had “come to the end of its natural life”.

He said: “The current site is isolated, distant from our main hospital base and has experienced ongoing issues with vandalism and theft.

 “Because of the age and location of the facility, we have also had some issues with the power supply and equipment which is now at the end of its natural life. We don’t believe this is the best use of resources or in the best interests of patients with clinics having to be cancelled or moved to other locations at short notice.”