Hospitals to make way for homes

The hospital closed earlier this year

The site of the old Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon has been sold off to a housing developer.

The hospital closed earlier this year when its facilities were moved to the town's new Great Western Hospital.

Work on bulldozing the 9.8 hectare site on Okus Road to make way for 450 new homes is expected to start soon.

Developer Bloor Homes will have to apply to the council for permission, but the land around the old Princess Margaret site already has outline planning consent for the houses.

As part of the deal the company also has to build a nursing home and community facilities including a GP's surgery.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital at RAF Wroughton is also being demolished.

It closed to the public in December 1995 and will now take on 150 houses and a conference centre.