BOSSES at St Luke’s Hospice have spoken out over why they want to build a new hospice on a controversial green belt site.

Plans to build 50 homes and a six-bed hospice at Malgraves Farm, off Lower Dunton Road, in Horndon-on-the-Hill, have been met with opposition by residents.

They question whether Thurrock needs more hospice provision in the east of the borough, when both Grays and western Thurrock are currently without one.

There are also concerns around the impact 50 new homes would have on local infrastructure.

The six-bed hospice would act as an extension to the existing St Luke’s Hospice building in Basildon.

A public consultation – the Local Development Framework – by Thurrock Council has identified the site as the preferred location for the development.

And as the council now consults residents and interested parties on the finer details of the plan, Eileen Marshall, chief executive at St. Luke’s, has explained why this site is ideal for the hospice’s twin building. She said: "The plans submitted to Thurrock Council are for a state-ofthe- art, six-bedroom hospice, with appropriate space for support services, which include outpatient clinics and therapies, a learning centre, hospice gardens and a cafe reception, together with an ‘enabling’ residential development of 50 houses.

"This particular development was considered to be ideal because it is desirable for the hospice to be set in tranquil surroundings – the continuance of green belt status to surrounding land both within and on the boundary of the development will provide assurance for ongoing tranquility in future years.

"Its proximity to Basildon Hospital will help us to support patients, as on our current site, which is next to Basildon Hospital, in a seamless way."

Mrs Marshall also responded to concerns that the new hospice is small. She said: "As we intend running the new hospice in conjunction with our current one, we do not feel it necessary at present to build a hospice larger than applied for.

Thurrock Gazette:

Staff from Thurrock at St Luke's Hospice

"We intend to continue expanding our Hospice at Home service in line with people’s wishes to remain at home as long as possible or to die at home."