A DEVELOPER currently working on the huge 600 home estate on the old Lea Castle Hospital site in Kidderminster has received a national nature accolade.

Regeneration specialist, Vistry Partnerships, has been accredited the ‘Building with Nature Design Award’ after working on the development with housing association firm, Citizen, and once complete, will provide 240 affordable homes and 360 outright sale.

The accolade recognises the developer’s efforts to use nature friendly features and sustainable solutions.

Darren Beale, managing director at Vistry Partnerships West Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be recognised at a national level for our Lea Castle development.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The first homes went up for sale in March. The first homes went up for sale in March.

"In Kidderminster, we have gone above and beyond the norm by creating something which allows wildlife and people to live together in perfect harmony by placing sustainability at the heart of all decision making.”

The developers also worked with environmental consultants, The Environment Partnership (TEP), to ensure their project met the award’s guidelines.

TEP’s senior landscape architect, Anna Miroslaw, added: “We have worked hard to ensure that the landscape design reflects the unique and special character of this site, whilst also creating an environment in which the new community can flourish.

"The open spaces, play features and active trails have been designed for all to enjoy; sustainable drainage features allow rainwater to replenish the natural water table and carefully selected planting will enrich biodiversity.”

Kidderminster Shuttle: The site became derelict after Lea Castle Hospital closed in 2008.The site became derelict after Lea Castle Hospital closed in 2008.

Lea Castle Hospital, which was previously a mental health unit, treated and assessed more than 600 people in its heyday in the 1960s and boasted facilities including a hydrotherapy pool and dental clinic.

It was used as a military camp in the Second World War and the site was occupied by the Royal Army Pay Corps until 1960.

The hospital closed its doors in 2008, despite campaigning from groups including the Lea Castle Action Group.

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The £137 million development will feature a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes built in partnership with Homes England, the Government’s housing agency and Citizen.

Executive director of development at Citizen, Nick Byrne, said: “We are thrilled that our Lea Castle development has been given a Building with Nature Design Award.

“Lea Castle is our largest development to date and putting nature at the heart of the development will create a lovely atmosphere for our customers to live in.

"We want our homes to make a real difference to our customers’ lives and having a development built around nature trails and open spaces will help to achieve this.”