A full public inquiry is to be held into controversial NHS plans to redevelop Springfield Hospital.

After the plans were rejected last year, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust decided to appeal the against the decision in June.

As a result, a public inquiry will begin on November 8 at the hospital and will run for two weeks, with the final decision made by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles.

Local groups opposing the plans are disappointed the trust did not do more to try and resolve outstanding issues before calling for the inquiry.

Andy Clark of the Neighbours of Springfield Hospital said: "It has taken the hospital seven months to make this decision and in this time there has been no effort to communicate with us about how we could work together to find a solution that has support with the local community."

Tooting MP Sadiq Khan said: "I am disappointed that this has had to come to an appeal, with all the expense this entails for the taxpayer.

"Once it was clear an appeal was inevitable, I demanded a full public inquiry to ensure residents had the best opportunity to voice their concerns about the development.

"While I support the trust’s aims to improve clinical care and provide the best possible facilities for their patients, their approach to this re-development has been flawed throughout, particularly in relation to public consultation.

"If Springfield Hospital want to be good neighbours they should develop a plan that local residents can support - not bulldoze through this unpopular planning application."

The trust was denied permission to create 839 homes, a smaller hospital and 3,700 square metres of mixed retail, commercial and business space on Tooting's Glenburnie Road site by Wandsworth Council's planning committee in December last year.

It was refused because of the negative impact such a large development would have on the transport infrastructure in area, especially around the Burntwood Lane/Trinity Road junction.

A previous application made in March 2010 was also rejected on similar grounds. More than 5,500 of people objected to the plans.

Kim Goddard, Director of Nursing & Operations at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “The Trust’s decision to appeal is based, above all, on our duty of care to the people we serve.

"It is our overriding responsibility to ensure that patients are cared for in modern, purpose-built facilities which will best aid their recovery.

“For this reason, no change on the Springfield Hospital site is simply not an option.

“We are absolutely committed to improving facilities for patients. We know -both from clinical evidence and the regular feedback of patients and carers - that an environment of safety, privacy and dignity is integral to effective care and recovery.”

The Trust’s claims its proposals for the site incorporate a range of community benefits, including supported housing for older people and those with learning disabilities, a primary school and a range of sports and leisure facilities.

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