Bulldozers move in to St Edmund's Hospital site in Northampton

Bulldozers moved onto the site yesterday (Monday) and it is expected to be completely levelled in the next few days.

Cypriot-based Kayalef Holdings, who own the building, have planning permission to develop the land into a retirement village of 130 care apartments and a 62-bed specialist care home.

St Edmund’s Hospital is a former Victorian workhouse, built in 1836, and parts of the building are Grade II listed.

After the retirement village plan was approved by Northampton Borough Council in June last year work on the site was delayed due to issues relating to the drainage and demolition of the site.

In April, a spokesperson for Kayalef, Ashley Riley said St Edmund’s was a “complex project with complex issues regarding listings, feasibility and demands on converting 19th century buildings to meet the needs of the 21st century.”

He said: “We’d like to thank local people for their patience over recent months who we know have shared our frustrations over the condition of the site.

“The last thing any of us has wanted is another failed application. Therefore as these schedule of demolition works get underway we will continue to work in partnership with Northampton Borough Council towards submitting full planning permission in due course.”