A FORMER hospital could be redeveloped to provide a wide range of services for the local community at a cost of more than £6m.

And one of the ideas now under active consideration is a hospice that would serve the entire Hambleton area.

The Rutson Hospital, in Northallerton, closed in August of last year when its services were transferred to the nearby Friarage.

It had been a hospital for some 130 years but has now been declared surplus to requirements by the local primary care trust.

Hambleton District Council has been working with partners, including Broadacres Housing Association, to produce plans for the future of the site and a number of proposals have been put forward for its mixed use.

They include supported young people’s housing, possibly 12 units, and affordable housing, possibly 14 units.

Also envisaged are offices and associated facilities for voluntary organisations, workshops and training rooms, a social enterprise base and a heritage resource centre.

The possibility of a hospice is a late addition that has the backing of the town council and this week won the support of the Northallerton Forum.

It was raised by 78-year-old Audrey Pitchforth, of Brompton, who lost her husband Frank, to cancer two years ago when he was 79.

"The nearest hospices are in Darlington, Stockton, Harrogate and York and that’s a long way to be travelling," she said.

"When someone’s at the stage in their life you want to be with them as much as possible. We need somewhere nearer that people can access easily."

She added: "The population of Hambleton is 87,000 - which is large enough to support a hospice."

The hospice idea will now be taken back to the partnership for consideration as part of the development.

The full cost for the development - including site acquisition - are estimated at around £6.6m.

The partners are hoping for a £1.5m grant from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and hope to submit a full business plan to them by the end of 2009 so a decision can be obtained this financial year.

Further approaches are being made to other organisations to provide 50 per cent support for the housing elements of the scheme.

Work on a business case for the voluntary sector involvement is now underway with a view to submitting funding bids to appropriate organisations.