February 24 2020

The former Killearn Hospital is in line for residential-led redevelopment under new proposals brought forward by CALA Homes and Barton Willmore.

The brownfield site has lain disused since the hospital’s closure in the 1970s during which a succession of redevelopment proposals has failed to get out of the ground. Now a hybrid application calls for the demolition of remaining hospital buildings to make room for 86 homes, in conjunction with an application in principle for 2,500sq/m of commercial space and a 36-room care home.

A ‘landscape first’ masterplan to achieve this mix of uses calls for establishing a series of village greens, framing views across the Blane Water and retaining current woodland with new buildings aligned to make best use of available views and creation of grassed earth mounds to serve as a gateway feature and landscaped buffer to the Oakwood Roundabout.

Detailing this approach Barton Willmore wrote: “The majority of house types provided across the proposed development will be 2 storeys, albeit there will be some subtle variations in building heights to add to the character of the proposed development, such as dormers or increased roof heights at important locations in the layout.

“There will be several bungalows, located at corners internally within the layout. This reduction of scale at the corners will help provide an open-feeling to the development, extending views to the landscape beyond. This allows the landscape to provide a sense of enclosure, instead of built form dominating.”

A SUDS open space is located not the south of the site connected to a new footpath network and viewpoint with completion expected following a three-year build programme.

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