Information on Loughborough

Demolition Starts on Baxtergate Hospital

Posted on 06/06/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk

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img src="/newsimages/demolition2.jpg" alt="demolition rubble " width="350" height="233" style="margin-right:10px; float:left; margin-bottom:10px; margin-bottom:10px;" />Its been almost 150 years since the construction of the first part of the building (and many years less for the numerous addons that probably make up three quarters of the site), four years since the building was last used and couple of weeks since the planning application for its replacement were thrown out by the new council. However demolition at the Baxtergate site has started on the demolition and going unnoticed by many of the people walking past.

Currently only the buildings at the back are being removed, many of which still have sticky tape over the gaps in their walls from when they were last occupied (seriously!). A date for the demolition of the main building could not be ascertained.

The developers had planned to turn the dissused building, which has been empty for the last 4 years except for the occasional drug user, into a block of flats to cater for up to 600 students. Students in the town now have to pay up to £100 per week for accommodation.

Stuart Mitchell, of Storer Road and Ashby Residents Group (SARG) said on BBC Radio prior to the council meeting where the application was thrown out that they were looking for a mixed development, including retail units on the ground floor, and a mixture of offices and affordable housing for the upper floors. He went on to say that Loughborough people didnt want developments between four and seven storey high.

Whilst the development plans were thrown out the problem remains of what is wanted at the Baxtergate site and more importantly who will pay for it. Given the number of vacant shops units in the town, developers would be cautious to include shop units in any scheme.