The Department of Health has published its strategy to accelerate the release of public sector land to help local communities and the NHS.
(see www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/ groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/ digitalasset/dh_130369.pdf) This follows NHS deputy chief executive David Flory’s letter to the service on 22 July, with the initiative having been first announced on 8 June 2011 by Minister of State for Housing and Local Government, Grant Shapps. Health Minister, Simon Burns, said: “There are potentially over 430 hectares of surplus land within the NHS estate which are not being used for patient care, or to benefit the local community. This is equivalent to over 600 football pitches, which could provide an estimated 11,000 new homes. “This represents a huge cost when mapped out across the NHS, which is why we need to be smarter with our resources. Selling underused land means that the NHS is able to reduce its costs and reinvest money into frontline NHS care, whilst the available land can benefit society and go towards building new homes. “A more productive and modern NHS is vital if we are to create a health service that is sustainable and cost-effective, and can cope with the increasing demands in the future.”
