Plans to demolish a former isolation hospital to make way for homes have been turned down by a planning inspector.

The main buildings of the former Ainsworth Hospital for infectious diseases, are the subject of a planning appeal after the council rejected plans to demolish it and build two detached houses.

Built in 1906, the site was originally known as Ainsworth Isolation Hospital and it was used primarily for the treatment of patients with smallpox.

The hospital, which is on green belt land, closed in 1982, before opening as a nursing home in 1986 and remained in that use until 2018.

Applicants Mr KJ and Mrs V Stopforth to applied for planning permission for a proposed development at The Coach House part of the site, including demolishing the building.

However, the council argued that the building was a non designated heritage asset and should not be pulled down and that the new build houses would damage the character of the green belt.

Plans for the site have been rejected

Plans for the site have been rejected

Other plots of land at the former nursing home site have already been converted into residential use.

A design and access report in support for the plans said: “Our clients acquired the property with a view to either converting the existing building for residential use or alternatively demolishing it and redeveloping the site with either one or two new houses.

“After a great deal of consideration our clients have concluded that the building does not readily lend itself to conversion for residential use.

"Our clients’ proposal therefore is to demolish the existing building and to redevelop the site with two new dwellings designed in keeping with the design and character of the buildings remaining on site.”

Rejecting the appeal, the planning inspector, said: “The council contend that the smallpox hospital is the only one of its type within the borough, and I have no substantive reasons to question this.

“The contribution it made to the efforts to contain smallpox and the development of health care provision within the area is deemed, by the council, to be of local importance.

"The proposed dwellings would clash with rather than harmonise with the original buildings on the wider site.

“I consider the adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. I therefore conclude that the appeal is dismissed.”