Second bid to turn offices into hospital submitted

The office block could be turning into a private hospital if plans are approved

Developers have launched a second bid to turn empty Coventry offices into a private hospital.

If the scheme goes ahead, Ashford House in Walsgrave would become a medical facility providing NHS services for about 40 patients per day, plans state.

The hospital, staffed by around 55 people, would specialise in health issues relating to eyes and sight, and feet and ankles, developers Cloverglade Ltd said.

An earlier bid by the company was rejected when officials refused plans over concerns about travel to the site, which is in the Walsgrave Triangle Business Park.

Planning officers from Coventry City Council said the plan was not in a "sustainable" location, because of a lack of bus and cycle links and developers had not considered the issue in their proposal.

A cover letter by planning agents Frampton Town Planning said the new application, which is "fundamentally identical", has now dealt with the reasons it was turned down last year.

They have now reduced the number of parking spaces, added cycle parking and further traffic tests have been done, the said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.