CALLS have been made for the Sharoe Green hospital site to be made into a park and ride.

They come after plans to sell the 9.2-acre site to developers hit a brick wall when Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was refused planning permission for housing on the land.

Councillors representing residents welcomed the decision made by Preston Council's planning committee on Monday,

Councillor Elizabeth Clarkson, who represents Sharoe Green ward, said: "It should be made into a park and ride for Royal Preston Hospital.

"There is such a big problem with parking it's time something was done for the residents."

Sharoe Green councillor, Rowena Edmonson, said if it could not be made into affordable houses for young people, when the hospital closes in the summer, then a park and ride would also be her preferred option.

But the refusal has caused uproar at the trust where bosses say future developments, like new buildings, equipment, or repairs to existing buildings, could be put into jeopardy without the revenue from developers.

Trust chief executive. Tony Curtis, said: "It is going to be a prioritisation exercise now, and some new developments may have to be indefinitely shelved.

"We understood from our discussions with Preston City Council that the land would be suitable for housing, and it was on this basis that we planned to use the money from the sale of the site to fund developments in health care services."

He said they were considering appealing against the decision.

Permission to build houses had been recommended for refusal by planning officers, because of fears the development could contribute to an over supply of homes in Preston and because it contravened the Local Plan.

The application also fell foul of new planning restrictions, imposed by the council in March, to limit the number of new homes being built on brownfield sites.

Chairman of the planning committee councillor John Swindells, said: "I think the site would be more suited to mixed use, of other uses as well as housing."

A multi-million pound development on brownfield land at Preston docks, for 75 new apartments and 6,600 sq metre of office space, was given approval by councillors at the same planning meeting, despite being recommended for refusal by planning officers.