More than 40 homes could be built as part of a comprehensive redevelopment of a former hospital site.

Eastern Daily Press: A large memorial plaque on the wall of a former wing at the Lowestoft Hospital site. Picture: Mick HowesA large memorial plaque on the wall of a former wing at the Lowestoft Hospital site. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

With more than 9,000 new homes and 5,000 new jobs proposed in the Waveney Local Plan, which looks set to be adopted on Wednesday, March 20, the former Lowestoft Hospital is 'proposed for redevelopment for residential uses.'

The prominent 1.8 acres (0.72ha) site in Lowestoft is earmarked for 'residential development,' according to the local plan, 'with an element of care such as sheltered housing or extra-care housing' likely to be strongly supported.

Eastern Daily Press: An aerial view of the former Lowestoft Hospital site. Picture: Mike PageAn aerial view of the former Lowestoft Hospital site. Picture: Mike Page (Image: Archant)

After the hospital closed in 2016, the Tennyson Road site went to auction in October 2018.

In January, the buyer behind the £475,000 winning bid for the Lowestoft Hospital site vowed to be 'sympathetic' to its history.

At the time Daniel Shreeve, owner of Lowestoft-based Shreeve Commercial Ltd, said: 'We will be liaising closely with the local council to propose a development scheme that is sympathetic to the hospital.

'Our aim will be to create a development plan that enhances the community, in accordance with the general principles outlined in the Waveney Local Plan, where it is viable and feasible to do so.'

In the Strategy for the Lowestoft Area section of the Local Plan, it states: 'The former hospital site is proposed for redevelopment for residential uses. Given the history of the site, residential accommodation with an element of care such as sheltered housing or extra-care housing will be strongly

supported.

'It is considered that the site could accommodate approximately 45 homes. These could take the form of apartments or terraces in converted buildings and new build terraces and apartments.'

It adds that the 'most sensitive part of the site' is the south elevation of the original hospital building – fronting Milton Road East – which was constructed in 1882 and features an attractive facade.

The plan states: 'The 1927 wing frontage on to Alexandra Road, which includes a war memorial is also sensitive. The other frontages onto Tennyson Road and the 1930s frontage onto Alexandra Road to the north of the site are less sensitive but do provide an attractive frontage onto the street.

'Considering the above, any redevelopment should aim to retain and re-use the original 1882 hospital building, the 1927 wing building on Alexandra Road, and the other early 20th Century frontages on Alexandra Road and Tennyson Road where it is viable and feasible to do so.

'Some degree of openness to the south of the site should be retained so that the principal elevation of the original 1882 hospital building can be appreciated from Milton Road East.'