Eye hospital demolition to take several months

The demolition of a closed hospital could take up to nine months to complete, with developers vowing to celebrate its history in future plans.

The former Sunderland Eye Infirmary has been empty since services transferred to the new £50m Specialist Eye Hospital in the city centre last month.

The Queen Alexandra Road facility was opened by Queen Elizabeth II before she became the reigning monarch in 1946 and housebuilder Story Homes previously said it wanted to build 62 homes in its place.

The developer has now applied for permission to Sunderland City Council to knock it down. In planning documents, it said would it retain part of the structure as a feature in the new eye hospital.

In papers submitted to the council, Story Homes said demolition was expected to start on 1 October and would take nine months.

They said an asbestos survey had been requested ahead of the demolition, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Pieces of the infirmary's history will survive, with three foundation stones built into external walls due to be "incorporated as a feature within the new specialist eye hospital".

The old eye infirmary site currently remains in the ownership of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust said the facility was no longer deemed fit for purpose.

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