RESIDENTS will be invited to have their say on the future of Bootham Park Hospital.

And a report prepared for a City of York Council committee says one option for the site is that it could become a care home focused on delivering services for people living with dementia.

The document, prepared for members of the health, housing and adult social care policy and scrutiny committee says the public will be asked for their views on the future on the site later this month and adds: "Advisers (IBI Group) have been appointed to evaluate the site, undertake public engagement and propose new uses for the site. They are expected to produce their recommendations in November 2018. "

York Central MP Rachael Maskell has been campaigning for Bootham Park Hospital to continue to be used for health or social care and revealed in August that the sale of the former psychiatric hospital had been put on hold.

She said that the health secretary is expected to make a decision about the site in the autumn and added: "It's just had amazing public support. That shows the strength of feeling and understanding of what York needs. It's absolutely vital that we get the best for York.

"There will be a public consultation which the council will undertake on the future of the site. We have been in discussion with all the agencies and work is still going on. We would like it to become a health-focused facility as opposed to flats. We have had massive support through the petition and we are encouraging people to sign it."

Cllr Ian Gillies, leader of City of York Council and Cllr Andrew Waller, deputy leader of the council, said:

“We’ve been working with health partners for a number of months to shape a site development plan for Bootham Park. The public engagement exercise set to start later this month will give people across the city a voice in shaping the ideas for the site.

“Bootham Park is a valuable asset and a fantastic opportunity. We believe this site in the heart of the city should be developed with partners to provide a range of public services for York and the surrounding area in the long term.

“With its complex access arrangements, listed status and heritage issues, it requires sensitive and imaginative redevelopment.”

A spokesperson for NHS Property Services said: “The site has been declared surplus to NHS needs by the local clinical commissioning group, however we remain engaged with local partners on potential uses for the site.”