THE Victorian parts of Blackburn Royal Infirmary are to be turned into homes after hospital bosses struck a deal with property developer Barratts.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has agreed to sell the hospital site once it moves all services to the town's expanded Queen's Park Hospital later this year.

The deal was struck in consultation with Blackburn with Darwen Council, which has to approve the change of land use for housing.

The company will begin work on the site, off Bolton Road, in July once plans have been approved.

The sale of land will generate funds for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust for improvements to hospital buildings, purchase of new equipment and development of the site in preparation for the opening of the new hospital in Haslingden Road.

It will also fund the new helipad for air ambulance patients who are transferred to Queen's Park Hospital.

Meetings have now begun between Barratts, the council and East Lancashire Hospitals bosses to decide the best sort of housing and the layout of the estate.

The council today said it expected the Victorian buildings to remain, most likely as apartments.

Coun John Milburn, executive member for resources said: "By agreeing to sell the land, the hospital has played a key part in helping us with our plan to transform the Infirmary area.

"Housing market renewal money is already having an impact by opening up lucrative land along the canal for development."

Stephen Brookfield, director of finance for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I am delighted that a developer has now been appointed to provide housing on the Blackburn Royal Infirmary site."