THE Middlesbrough General Hospital and North Riding Infirmary sites have been put on the market by commercial property consultants Lamb and Edge.

The hospitals will be moving to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough in 2003, bringing resources together on to a single site.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which operates both hospitals, has instructed Inventures, the NHS estates consultancy, and Lamb and Edge to sell the properties.

The 100-year-old Middlesbrough General Hospital stands on more than 19 acres in Linthorpe Road.

Mike Cuthbertson, of Lamb and Edge, believes it is ideally located for residential development.

He said: "It is rare that a central site of this size comes to the market. The Local Plan allows for residential development here, and the generous grounds provide superb potential for developers.

"Its future use could have a significant impact on Middlesbrough's regeneration. It has already attracted interest from potential developers."

The North Riding Infirmary, close to Sainsbury's supermarket in Middlesbrough town centre, is set in 1.85 acres. The site is zoned for retail, leisure and residential use.

Mr Cuthbertson said: "North Riding Infirmary is a prominent site which would suit a range of uses."

It was a gateway to the town centre with excellent road and public transport links.

The single site development at the James Cook University Hospital will be one of the largest Private Funding Initiative hospitals in the country. Work should be finished by spring next year.