A plan to turn a 124 bedroom hotel into a state-of-the-art hospital has been revealed in MK.

The site is the Novotel hotel on Heelands, off Saxon Street and the transformation could be complete by as early as 2028.

The facility would for private patients, similar to the Saxon Clinic a couple of miles away, and it would be known as Saxon Rise Hospital.

It would boast four operating theatres, endoscopy and diagnostic facilities a cardiac catheterisation laboratory, inpatient and day accommodation, outpatient consultation rooms, physiotherapy and a pharmacy.

placeholder image — Novotel hotel in Milton Keynes

A new GP practice to serve the local catchment area is also under consideration.

Real estate investment firm Fowles & Partners is leading the £85m and are this week reported to be opening discussions with potential investors and funding partners with the aim of submitting a planning application later this year.

The Novotel was put up for sale by Colliers in May 2023 for an undisclosed price, but there is no record of it being sold and it is no longer on the market.

As well as the 124 bedrooms, it has a gym, bar, 75-cover restaurant, and conference facilities.

Fowles & Partners, who specialise in the hospitality and hotel sector, plan to redevelop it with no demolition involved, using as “adaptive reuse strategy” for maximum sustainability.

Building Better Healthcare (BBH) website reported this week: “The scheme will involve the large-scale retrofit and conversion of an existing hotel rather than the demolition and construction of a new hospital building.

"The project, titled Project Saxon Rise, is progressing towards a forthcoming public planning application, with completion and opening targeted for 2028, subject to planning permission.

"The practice is now beginning discussions with potential institutional investors, development capital partners and forward-funding groups as it develops the project's investment and funding strategy.”

No details have been given of who will run the hospital.