St Saviour’s Hospital Site Prioritised for Affordable Housing in New Development Brief

The former St Saviour’s Hospital site has been earmarked primarily for affordable housing, according to new development guidance published by the government.

The 36-page development brief provides direction for future plans on the site, which was originally designated for housing in 2021 after it was deemed no longer suitable for modern healthcare use. The site has now been vacated, following the closure of Orchard House in June last year and the transfer of patients to the redeveloped Clinique Pinel.

Under the new guidance, most of the development will focus on creating affordable homes, with Marina Court, Marina Cottages, Valley Court, the former nurses’ home, and Orchard House identified as the key areas for new residential construction.

The brief also highlights the potential for the heritage-led regeneration of the Grade 1 listed Queen’s House, which dates back to 1868 and is regarded as the Island’s only example of Victorian asylum architecture. The building, overlooking the main lawn, may accommodate open-market housing or community uses, depending on overall project viability.

The government’s use of publicly owned land to address the Island’s affordable housing shortage is identified as a key policy objective within both the Bridging Island Plan and the Public Estates Strategy.

In addition to residential development, the document notes that the hospital’s gardens and surrounding grounds will be retained as community green space, with potential enhancements such as informal gardens and areas for local food growing.

The redevelopment of the St Saviour’s site is intended to balance heritage preservation with the delivery of new homes, supporting the wider goal of improving housing availability across the Island.