An abandoned housing estate, once built for NHS staff and now referred to as a “ghost town” is set to be transformed into 135 new council homes.
The area, known as Hospital Close in Evington, Leicester, became a hotspot for crime and antisocial behaviour after it was deserted in 2019. The site, near Leicester General Hospital, was bought by Leicester City Council in 2021 for a £17m redevelopment.
However, locals have accused the council of neglecting the residents and allowing the neighbourhood to become a “a warzone”. Plans to revive the abandoned streets are finally moving forward with the approval of 135 new homes.
But residents question why it took so long to address the issues that made their lives “hell”. Ashley Lewis, a nearby resident, said: “I’m glad the plans have taken a step forward but its taken far too long.”
He added: “The council have dragged their heels over it and in the meantime, the area has just turned into a warzone. It’s been hell living here.”
“When they bought it, surely it becomes their responsibility, but they’ve just neglected the needs of the remaining residents there.”
Four years ago University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust decided it could not afford to maintain the homes or upgrade them to modern standards.
The Trust issued eviction notices to hospital staff and health workers, including many nurses, living in the properties were forced to move out.
Since then, the remaining residents say they have been “forgotten about” as the estate has also now become a hotspot for fly-tipping and other antisocial behaviour.
Asley added: “It used to be a thriving little community of NHS staff and their families. It’s gone from having these angels and life-savers to drug dealers and thugs.
“As people know its derelict you get people using and selling drugs, boy racers using it as a track and I don’t even walk over that way anymore. The fly-tipping is just constant, one thing will get dumped and once that’s cleared another load will replace it. It’s just really sad to see.
Grandfather-of-two Terry Goldsmith, 69, who also lives nearby, said previously: “The place has just been left to rot and its a real shame.
“You’ve got the hospital right next to it so it was a perfect place for staff to live. I’ve lived her 45 years and it was also quite a nice place to be.”
“But now it looks like a warzone, the whole place is boarded up and a complete mess.”
A council spokesperson explained to the BBC that the scheme was “ambitious and complex”, which is why it took over two years for the plans to be approved.
“With planning permission now in place, a contractor will be appointed in the coming weeks with major work expected to get under way in the summer.
“A lot of preparatory work has already been done, including new roofs, drainage surveys and asbestos removal.”
