Community hospitals identified as potential housing sites

Five community hospitals in Dorset are being considered as potential locations for nearly 200 new homes.The submission of these sites to Dorset Council’s land availability assessment in 2019 was confirmed by Dorset Healthcare Trust.The matter came to light when a ward councillor raised concerns about the future of Portland’s hospital. However, the hospital trust clarified that it was a procedural requirement to propose potential housing land for the council’s local plan and emphasised that there were no plans to close any of the hospitals.The identified sites, part of the council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), aim to address housing needs in the area. The potential allocations are as follows, Portland Hospital – 51 homes, Yeatman Hospital, Sherborne – 50 homes, St Leonards Hospital – 28 homes, Wareham Hospital – 18 homes and Weymouth Hospital – 50 homes.It is important to note that the submission of these sites does not imply immediate changes to the status or operations of the hospitals.The focus remains on fulfilling the council’s housing requirements while maintaining healthcare services in the community.