Plans for a new brain injury hospital are to become reality after The Disabilities Trust secured approval for the project, which will maintain a vital service in Yorkshire.
For over 20 years, the charity has operated York House in the city of York, but was forced to look elsewhere due to the closure of the site.
After a lengthy search, The Disabilities Trust has chosen its new site, south of The Residence at the city’s Chocolate Works development, and construction is now able to begin to create the 36-bed purpose-built facility.
The four-ward hospital, which retains around 145 healthcare jobs in the city, will be dedicated to acquired brain injury rehabilitation and will also include four assessment flats and a therapeutic garden.
The new centre will add further to the charity’s brain injury inpatient portfolio, which extends across England, Scotland and Wales, in addition to its community and supported living services.
“We are delighted to have received planning permission which will allow us to continue our presence in York after more than 20 years of service,” said Bill Chidgey, director of corporate services at The Disabilities Trust.
“This development will enable us to provide the people we support with the highest quality of facilities, to aid and support them in their treatment and rehabilitation.
“We’re proud to call York our home and are looking forward to building strong ties with local residents and our new neighbours. Throughout this process our priority has been to retain our workforce and provide long-term assurances to the people we support and their families.
“Now our plans have been approved we can look forward to our future in York.”
Tom Wheldon, director and head of region at HBD, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to partner with The Disabilities Trust to bring forward this new facility – it will bring huge benefit to so many people and retains a vital mental health service for York.
“We’ve worked closely with the local community to create a scheme that is both considerate of its surroundings and incorporates high quality facilities for the benefit of service users and staff.”
The planning application to City of York Council was submitted in July following a public consultation, and the project will be completed in partnership with development company HBD.
The project team supporting the scheme includes planning and heritage consultant JLL, principle architect Jefferson Sheard, and specialist landscape architect, re-form landscape architecture.
The development will also include 50 car parking spaces, bicycle racks and additional landscaping adjacent to the Peace Garden. The building will aim to achieve BREEAM Excellent rating, a 28 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in line with Council objectives, and include a green sedum roof.
