A FORMER hospital site overlooking Beverley Westwood looks set to be redeveloped for "high- value" new homes.
A Manchester-based property developer has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the 4.4-acre former Beverley Westwood Hospital site.
PJ Livesey Group is expected to submit plans for about 50 new homes, about 20 of which would be in converted listed buildings on the site.
Simon Weightman, who is acting as selling agent for the site on behalf of Humber NHS Foundation Trust, revealed there had been ten bidders.
Mr Weightman said: "It has been marketed without the benefit of planning permission because every developer will have their own innovative idea of how it should be development.
"The preferred developer is hoping to be able to submit a planning application within the next six months.
"Hopefully, building work could start within 12 months."
Mr Weightman, director at Hessle-based Clark Weightman chartered surveyors, said it was "an exciting development".
The new homes are expected to be in high demand because of the site's location bordering picturesque Beverley Westwood.
Beverley has just been named as one of the north's top ten most desirable places to live, adding to the site's appeal for house-hunters.
Mr Weightman said: "I am hoping there will be a big demand.
"It's a fairly unique development and there is the potential to get some fairly high value properties on there because of its location."
Mr Weightman will be overseeing the sale of the site to ensure there is maximum value for the public purse.
He said: "We hope to have a bit of a claw-back if it is really successful in terms of the end sales.
"We will incorporate that into the deal because we are dealing with the public purse.
"We are looking at the most realistic development and the best price and making sure if it really does fly there might be a little bit more cream for the public purse."
He said it would be a low-density development of about 30 new-build properties, plus about 20 in converted listed buildings.
Mr Weightman said: "The new-build will be on the old hospital car park and on the site of some of the modern flat-roofed buildings and the former maternity block which would be demolished."
Georgina Livesey, a director with PJ Livesey, said: "As a respected conservation developer, we have vast experience of working on historic sites and are delighted to have been selected for Beverley Westwood.
"We also deliver high-quality new build homes in keeping with the listed building and sensitive to the environment and wider area.
"Our desire now is to consult closely with the local council and the community on the best possible plans to bring this important site back into use."
