A NATIONAL heritage group has slammed plans to demolish an historic hospital in Blaenau Gwent to make way for social housing.

The Victorian Society, which campaigns to preserve important Victorian and Edwardian buildings, has criticised plans to demolish the former Blaina Community Hospital.

The United Welsh Housing Association has submitted proposals to Blaenau Gwent Council to demolish the century- old building and build 20 bungalows for elderly people in Hospital Road.

The Victorian Society has written to Blaenau Gwent Council, urging it to refuse permission for the hospital’s demolition.

The society’s conservation adviser, Chris Costelloe, said: “It would mean a permanent loss of one of the most important and handsome buildings in the community.

“By contrast the proposed replacement housing is of a deeply unimaginative design and the lowest possible quality materials – uPVC, GRP, synthetic slate, through coloured render.

This would be a very poor exchange.”

The society said Blaina and District Hospital opened in 1910 and was paid for through subscriptions from local mining communities.

Mr Costelloe added: “The hospital is of local importance, it speaks of the struggles of industrial valley communities to improve their working conditions and facilities. It is just the sort of building that would be suitable for being locally listed.”

He said a better alternative would be to keep the building and possibly convert the main building, which he said could still have a long and useful life.

The building is owned by the Aneurin Bevan Health Board but United Welsh Housing Association has exchanged contracts subject to gaining planning permission from the council.

The developer has submitted an application for prior notification of its proposed demolition but cannot legally demolish the building until it gains planning permission.

A separate planning application to re-develop the site has been lodged with the council and will be considered on September 5.

United Welsh said it is keen to work with the community on the development of the site and is looking at ideas to incorporate the named wall and elements of the stonework into the design and re-use salvaged items which are of interest.

A spokeswoman said: “To refurbish the building is not viable due to its derelict state.

“Without this development the hospital building will continue to deteriorate and the site will become a huge problem.”

She said it is confident it can make positive use of the land while also respecting the area’s history.