A VETERINARY group with practices across York has unveiled plans to open a 24-hour animal hospital.

VetPartners, a national company based in Holgate, has applied for planning permission on behalf of Minster Vets to open the facility in an empty unit on Clifton Moor Industrial Estate.

The company wants to convert Coverdale House, which was previously used as offices by the Environment Agency. But the building has been vacant since January.

A spokeswoman for VetPartners said the animal hospital will provide out of hours care and will also mean the group can take on more specialist referrals. It will also have a training centre for junior vets and veterinary nurses.

Minster Vets currently has six branches across York and the spokeswoman said the new hospital will not be replacing any of the existing practices.

Planning documents say the business will create 15 full-time jobs.

A statement from VetPartners in the application says: “Coverdale House is envisaged as a high quality veterinary hospital facility for small animal species, enhancing the provision of veterinary care for York and the surrounding area.

"It will encompass the whole spectrum of veterinary care, from normal day to day work, to a more specialist level, meaning that owners and their pets will not have to travel as far to receive the care they need, and will bring additional business and employment to York as it will also attract patients from outside York. The site will run an emergency out of hour’s service running 24 hours a day 365 days per year.” The application adds that the hospital means university and college students will be able to work in the area after qualifying.