Park owner 'optimistic' over Teesside hospital's future

The owner of a North East business park is optimistic plans for a new hospital will go ahead despite a government decision to scrap the development.

Work had been due to start on the £460m project in Wynyard Park in 2012.

But Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander axed the plans along with 12 other schemes nationwide, saving a total of £2bn.

Chris Musgrave, owner of Wynyard Park Ltd , said he believed the announcement only "delayed" the project.

He said: "My understanding is that the government haven't closed the door on the project - they have closed the door on the funding. They are two different things.

"If alternative funding can be provided I'm sure that we will be pushing at an open door."

Mr Musgrave said last week's announcement had been a disappointment.

He said the hospital would have been a "magnet" to attract private investment to the Tees Valley.

He added: "This hospital would have provided hundreds of construction jobs over the next two or three years.

"There's going to be an impact on employment in the area. There was probably never a better time to have it on site."

The "super hospital" was planned to replace out-dated hospital buildings at Stockton and Hartlepool.

It was also to have provided care closer to home for people in Hartlepool, Stockton and parts of Easington and Sedgefield.

Mr Musgrave added: "I'm still optimistic this will go forward. "We have no intention of giving up.

"I believe over the next few months you might see some other announcement.

"I see this as a delay not a cancellation."