Part of former Wolverhampton hospital could house Ukrainian refugees

The main former Royal Hospital building in Wolverhampton closed in 1997

Part of the former Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton could house Ukrainian refugees, under plans submitted to the city council.

The site closed in 1997, but was bought for residential development by the Homes and Communities Agency in 2016.

Plans have now been drawn up to convert the former porter's lodge into a temporary home for a Ukrainian family.

The main hospital building is already going to be turned into 38 flats comprising of one and two-bedrooms.

Council planners are yet to make a final decision on the lodge application which would be a temporary use for two years.

The proposed development at the Cleveland Road site, which is a conservation area, follows several applications by other organisations to change the site, all of which have not been approved.

The former nurses home remains as well the the main hospital and lodge

A resolution to approve planning permission has previously been granted by the council however, suggesting redevelopment will take place in the near future, the Local Democracy reporting Service said.

In a statement, Russell Morriss from architects BPN, which is working with developers Jessup Brothers, said: "Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the subsequent request by the government for people to provide asylum to Ukrainian refugees, developers Jessup has appointed BPN Architects to develop proposals for converting the former lodge building into flats.

"This would be temporary use for two years."

A heritage statement submitted with the application stated there had been a "comprehensive site clearance" with only the Grade II listed main hospital building, the lodge and the former nurses home left.

"There is a need to protect the character of the conservation area by preserving and enhancing historic structures - particularly vacant buildings such as the hospital, Bakers Boot & Shoe Factory and the Dixon building.

"Any new development should complement and integrate well with the character of the conservation area," it said.

This story has been updated to reflect that only the porter's lodge might be converted to house Ukrainian refugees, not the main hospital site.

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