July 7, 2014 10.48 am This story is over 116 months old

Former Lincoln asylum to be turned into 183 luxury homes

Asylum transformed: A 162-year-old hospital site two miles from Lincoln will undergo a £40 million development to transform it into 183 luxury homes and apartments.
Originally a Victorian hospital built to treat people with mental illnesses, the site will be redeveloped after has been vacant for around 24 years.

A 162-year-old hospital site two miles from Lincoln is undergoing a £40 million development to transform it into 183 luxury homes and apartments.

The five-year project, taken on by Mabec developers, will include 77 new build family homes in the grounds of the 18 acre St John’s Hospital site in Bracebridge Heath.

Work has already begun on the site, soon to be renamed St John’s Village, bringing hundreds of new jobs to the area.

Work has already begun to transform the disused hospital into luxury housing.

Work has already begun to transform the disused hospital into luxury housing.

The first phase of the development – 10 luxury apartments and seven new build, four bedroom detached houses – will be complete in August this year.

The hospital, which was built in 1852, was originally known as Lindsey & Holland Counties & Lincoln & District Lunatic Asylum, but was given the name St John’s in the early 60s.

The building remained vacant for around 24 years.

The building remained vacant for around 24 years.

The Victorian institution was built by architects Hamilton and Thomas Percy, at a cost of around £30,000, to treat people with mental illnesses and home disadvantaged families.

The site was vacant for around 24 years before Mabec acquired the site in early 2012.

The regeneration element of the limestone faced Grade II listed building will offer 64 houses and 42 apartments, including some that will sit inside the shell of the former large theatre to the centre of the site.

The building was originally a Victorian hospital built to treat people with mental illnesses.

The building was originally a Victorian hospital built to treat people with mental illnesses.

Mabec is working with Lincolnshire estate agent, Pygott and Crone, to market St John’s Village over the three to five-year project.

Mabec Director Mark Elliott, who is heading the project, said: “St John’s is an incredible site bursting with potential. The architecture is stunning and the history of the imposing buildings and surrounding grounds is extremely interesting.

“We are sympathetically renovating the existing property and building individually styled new houses to offer over 183 beautiful homes that will provide a unique living environment just outside of Lincoln.

“This kind of development is what I get really excited about – the potential of the existing site, the heritage of St John’s and being able to create such a special place for people to live in for generations to come. I’m really pleased to be able to bring St John’s back to life.”

Tim Downing, senior partner at Pygott and Crone, added: “This scheme will breathe much needed new life into the grounds, much to the delight of local residents.

“Bracebridge Heath is a vibrant community with many local amenities and St John’s is affectionately known by those in the local community.

“The site has a fantastic location – close to central Lincoln and access to major road links around the county and beyond and will offer a simply stunning setting for home owners that is unlike anywhere else in the county.”