Sale of former hospital site in Kent raises £2.3m for reinvestment in the NHS

NHS Property Services has completed the sale of the former Gravesend and North Kent Hospital site, in Gravesend, for £2.3million.

The site, also known as M-Block, has been sold to Peker Gravesend Ltd, with outline planning approval for up to 80 homes.

The site was declared surplus to the needs of the NHS by the local organisations that plan and pay for local healthcare, and was made available to other public bodies before being offered on the open market, but no viable approaches were received.

The role of NHS Property Services (NHSPS) was to dispose of the property to generate valuable funds for reinvestment in the NHS. In January 2017, NHSPS secured planning permission from Gravesham Borough Council to transform the 0.35-hectare site into a residential-led mixed-use development.

The plans have the potential to deliver up to 80 residential units alongside additional amenities that could include crèche, day centre and leisure use on the ground floor on Clifton Road, which would provide employment opportunities.

David Thurgar, Senior Transaction Manager at NHS Property Services, said: “This sale is a great example of how we help the NHS by using our expertise to unlock potential and achieve maximum value for surplus sites.

“As well as generating funds for reinvestment, this site could help meet the Government’s targets for releasing public sector land for much-needed new homes.”

The site was marketed by Strutt & Parker.

Gravesham Community Hospital, on an adjacent site, is unaffected by the sale and continues to operate as normal.