Dartmouth Town Council welcomes the announcement from the NHS Trust that the site of the old hospital has now been sold and will soon be developed. This marks a significant step forward, offering potential benefits for the community and ensuring that this important site is put to good use for Dartmouth.

While we are pleased to see progress, we must express our disappointment that the social value we worked so hard to achieve has not come to fruition. Over the past several years, the Council has worked closely with the NHS Trust to explore opportunities to ensure that the disposal of this site would deliver maximum social value for Dartmouth. Despite our best efforts, and the innovative proposals we put forward, these plans have been hindered by various external factors beyond our control, including economic turbulence and planning complications.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to the people of Dartmouth and will continue to champion projects that bring social value to our town. As such, we envisage working with the new owners of the site to ensure that the development aligns with the needs of our community and incorporates social value into its plans. This is an opportunity to create something truly beneficial for Dartmouth—a goal we will pursue with determination.

Quote from the Mayor, Cllr Andrea Cates: “The sale of the old hospital site is a pivotal moment for Dartmouth. While it’s disheartening that the social value we envisioned hasn’t been realised yet, we are optimistic about the future. The Council is ready to work with the new owners to ensure that this development delivers meaningful benefits for our community. Dartmouth deserves nothing less.”

Quote from the Chair of the Social Value Working Group, Cllr Hayley Rossiter: “Social value has always been at the heart of our vision for the old hospital site. Although setbacks have occurred, our resolve to bring positive change to Dartmouth remains undiminished. We are eager to collaborate with the new stakeholders to ensure that their plans reflect the needs and aspirations of our residents. Together, we can make a difference.”

Dartmouth Town Council thanks the community for their continued support and engagement. We will provide updates as the development progresses and remain open to feedback to ensure that the voices of our residents are heard throughout this process.