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THE sale of the derelict site of the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh has been completed, the Western Health Trust has confirmed.
Covering almost 20 acres, the grounds have been lying empty since the ‘County’ closed in June 2017, with services moving to the new Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex.
After a sales process which started in February 2019, the Western Trust has now confirmed that the historic site had been sold to Co Derry based developers, Southbank Square Limited.
Following an enquiry made by the Ulster Herald, a spokesperson for the Trust revealed the sale had been completed on October 16, 2020 “to the highest bidder”.
“The purchasers have now taken possession of the site,” she added. However, a spokesperson for Southbank Square Limited said it was too early to say what they intended to do with the land.
He added, “It’s a site we’re very excited about in terms of doing something good for the town.”
In February last year, the Western Trust revealed that the bill to maintain and secure the site of the historic former hospital had reached £557,500 – and was rising with each passing month. After deeming the site as surplus to its requirements, the Trust subsequently confirmed it was proceeding to sell it off for redevelopment.
It was hoped that the vacant site would be sold off within a year. In the end, it took more than 18 months.
A hospital for over 100 years, the site comprises a large number of existing buildings, extending to c.150,000 sq ft, to include the main hospital block, laboratory, outpatient department and administration buildings.
There are also numerous residential accommodation buildings, a tennis court and ten car parks, providing 275 spaces.
Although the ‘County’ has only been closed since the summer of 2017, it is understood that a number of the buildings have fallen into disrepair, with some experiencing flooding and others where the ceiling has fallen in.
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