A bid to get protected status for the old Johnson Hospital has been turned down.
The 1881 opened Priory Road building has been derelict for a number of years and local resident Jackie Allen had applied to Historic England for it to be given listed status.
Despite Jackie being successful earlier this year to put the former Christian Association building on Spring Garden on the National Heritage List for England, the application for the old Johnson Hospital has been turned down.
Historic England say the former hospital is not “under serious threat of demolition or major alteration” and is not “a site that possesses evident significance”.
Now Jackie is calling for the council to make a compulsory purchase order on the building.
It’s listed as being owned by Dyden Ltd, a company based in the British Virgin Islands whose listed shareholders are “business management consultants” SMP Helm Trust Limited who are based in Jersey.
The Voice has tried to contact SMP Helm to ask about the former hospital and the future of the former Bull and Monkie pub on Churchgate which Dyden Ltd also owns, but has not received a response.
“It’s unfortunate my application to make the old Johnson Hospital a listed building has been rejected.” Jackie said. “In Historic England’s opinion the building is not under threat or does not have any evident significance so cannot be listed.
“As the building is owned by an offshore company with no contact details there isn’t anything further I can do to help this building.
“I urge SHDC to look into a compulsory purchase to put the building to some good use as there are too many derelict buildings in the town.
“I would like to add my thanks to all of those who contacted me about stories and important information about the old Johnson Hospital and the old Fitness Company on Spring Gardens.
“We are still waiting for a decision by the Planning Inspectorate on the appealed planning application rejection for the Old Fitness Company.”
