Bath’s historic Royal Mineral Water Hospital is now officially ‘up for sale’ with the suggested potential of becoming anything from a retirement home to an hotel.
The Grade 11* listed complex – dating back to 1739 – and now officially the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, has been put on the market by the National Health Service.
Its services are being relocated to the RUH – of which it is now a part – and to a purpose-built therapies centre due to open in 2018.
According to the sales particulars – issued on line by GVA Grimley Limited of Bristol – ‘The objective is to maximise the sale proceeds from the sale of the current RNHRD and invest them in the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre. ‘
The on-line information says the complex is ‘ Suitable for a variety of uses; Residential, Retirement, Health, Office, Hotel, Leisure and Retail with potential access to hot spring waters. It has a total of 6,905 sq.m (74,322 sq.ft) floor space (approximate) and is Grade II* listed and adjoining Bath’s main retail pitch.’
Whoever buys it will have to let the RUH services stay there ‘ at a peppercorn rent’ until the new centre at Combe Park is ready for use.
The sales particulars add: ‘The property is formed of two main buildings fronting Upper Borough Walls, dissected by Parsonage Lane but connected with a two storey bridge link and a basement tunnel.
There is also a small lodge in the rear garden of the west wing. The original hospital was designed by John Wood the Elder in the Palladian style and opened in 1739 as the ‘Royal Mineral Water Hospital’.
The west wing and connecting bridge were built in 1859-61 and this front elevation is a faithful copy of the original wing. The property has been providing specialist treatment and rehabilitation for complex conditions for over 250 years.
The buildings through their use as a hospital over a long period of time have been continuously adapted and there are limited period features remaining internally.’
Seems the local authority is happy for The Min to be transformed internally for a variety of uses – as long as the refurbishment is sensitive and carefully carried out.
The on-line brochure says: ‘Early discussions with Bath and North East Somerset Council Officers have confirmed that the Council is keen to work with the future developer to ensure a successful and viable scheme is secured for the site in the near future.’
Offers in writing have to be in by 5pm on Wednesday, April 26th.
You can check out all the details via https://propertylink.estatesgazette.com/property-details/6225173-prime-development-opportunity
