A large part of Orsett Hospital has been sold to a house builder - for well in excess of £20million, it has been revealed.

The Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals NHS Trust has announced that the sale of "surplus land" - to Wilson Connolly - has been completed. The trust first revealed in September that it had selected a buyer and has now concluded the final negotiations for the 14.6-acre site.

Chairman, David Hooper, explained then that the trust "had an over-riding, statutory duty to obtain best value from the sale and that the process of analysing, discussing and comparing the bids had been rigorous".

Mr Hooper also confirmed that the sale was for "well over £20million".

Following a massive public outcry the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, John Prescott, granted outline consent for up to 200 houses in 1999.

Former Billericay MP Teresa Gorman - who lives in Orsett village - gathered together her own consortium to buy the land, but her bid was ruled out at the tender stage. In September the council's planning committee said the new housing estate should have a spacious feel, a strong landscaping structure with hedges and trees, and a varied mix of housing.

Access to the homes could be via High Road, Rowley Road and School Lane and the street layout should encourage walkers and cyclists by providing safe routes.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "Only the surplus part of the site has been sold and Orsett Hospital continues to provide a very important health care facility for Thurrock people."

Published Thursday, January 2, 2003

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