PLANS have been lodged with the district council for Selby’s biggest public building project in a generation.

The £16 million hospital and council HQ scheme proposed for the Doncaster Road site of the Selby War Memorial Hospital will now be scrutinised by planners before going before the council’s planning committee later this year.

There has been broad backing for the new community hospital, which is being financed through a grant from a Government fund and a loan taken out by Selby District Council.

But there has been some opposition from residents living close to the site about the civic centre element of the scheme, which will provide a new home for the district council.

Now detailed proposals have been submitted, a full consultation will take place with the local community and other interested agencies.

Coun Mark Crane said: “We are very pleased to have got to this stage so quickly and that’s down to the hard work and expertise of staff from both the council and the NHS.

“We are very much in this together because our partnership makes the scheme affordable and deliverable. Working alone, we would not be able to create these new state-of-the-art facilities for the local community.”

Janet Probert, director of community and mental health services for NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “Another important reason we’re working together is to make sure we can deliver our services as effectively as possible to support those residents most in need.

“One of the key priorities for the NHS is to work in closer partnership with local councils to help residents who need a range of support. What better way to achieve this than by both organisations being in the same building? The scheme also makes economic sense for both us and the council. In the long run, a single site means we are both able to use our money in the most cost effective way.”