By Saul Cooke-Black

A SCHEME has been launched to turn the derelict Standish Hospital site into a care centre with housing.

Led by original members of the Save Our Standish campaign and Stroud Common Wealth, the proposals aim to create a 'care village' where carers and those cared for live together.

Following a public consultation and the publication of SDC's Planning Concept Statement, there is now a three month window for private bids to buy the site in Housemarling Lane, Standish, which has been derelict since 2004.

Max Comfort, from Stroud Common Wealth and a former SOS campaigner, said: "It really is a great shame that the site has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair.

"We are seeking partners and supporters to join our project with a view to bidding for the site in the next few weeks.

"This is the best possible option for the site.

"There have been some proposals to turn the site into housing, but this proposal also means there would also be a health-related use.

"The project aims to help ease the burden on carers as well as helping those with dementia and other long-term health conditions."

About £1 million will need to be raised to cover the cost of purchase, security and maintenance of the Standish site, which is currently under the responsibility of the government's Homes and Communities Agency.

Cash will also need to be raised to restore two listed buildings on the site.

The proposals include building private housing plus a day-centre facility.

A residential service-charge would contribute to the cost of a core team of paid health-professionals to support family volunteers in providing day-care for relatives with long-term conditions, including early-stage dementia.

However, it would not be a hospital or nursing home, since people would be returning to their own homes on site at the end of the day.

The plan aims to transform the listed buildings into a cutting edge research centre for exploring new methods of community ‘co-caring’ for families supporting people with life-limiting conditions.

Co-caring is based on the idea of people in the same situation helping each other out.

A spokesperson from the Homes and Communities Agency said: "The HCA is currently bringing the Standish site to market via a competitive tender process and will be considering proposals at the end of the three month marketing period.

"By purchasing the land and bringing it forward for development, we hope to bring the site back into beneficial use.

"Since acquiring Standish in 2014, the HCA has been maintaining the structural integrity of the buildings and will continue to do so until a suitable purchaser is found.

"We have not ruled out any appropriate uses for the former hospital site and have worked with both the local authority and the community, via the Partnership Board, to find the right solution for this exceptional property."