Jarrow: St Clare’s Hospice site sold after charity collapse – developer McCarthy Stone primed to unveil plans


The former hospice site at Primrose Hill has been unused since the charity which ran the site collapsed into insolvency in early 2019, at the time leaving the borough without a dedicated palliative care facility.
Despite campaigners calling for services to return to the site, NHS leaders at South Tyneside’s then Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) approved plans for a new ‘spoke and hub’ model for the borough on September 24, 2020.
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This included dedicated ‘home from home’ end-of-life beds at Haven Court, within the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital, as well as extra resources for community palliative services in the borough.
The former St Clare’s hospice building remains unused but in a statement circulated by several South Tyneside councillors this month (June, 2025) it was revealed the site had been sold to a property company.
The statement, which is understood to have originated from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, named the company as McCarthy Stone and said the firm would work with a developer to create “retirement living accommodation”.
The statement noted the St Clare’s site was “listed as a community asset” but that “no bids ever came forward for its future use”, and added the NHS trust would ensure the new owner provides a “fitting memorial” within the site as part of any future development.
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Hide AdFuture plans for the site will be subject to council planning processes and decision-making, with a formal planning application expected later this year.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT), in a further statement, confirmed the sale of the former hospice facility and plans from the new owner to bring the site back into use.
A STSFT spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have agreed the terms of sale of the site at Primrose in Jarrow.
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Hide Ad“This was home to St Clare’s Hospice, as well as Primrose Hill Hospital in years gone by.
“These buildings have been untouched for some years now, but this location now looks set to be brought back into use and be part of the community once again.
“We know St Clare’s was a much-loved service and charity in South Tyneside, and that news of this sale will be emotional for countless families it supported and those who once worked there.
“Because of this, we have ensured the new owner will create a memorial as part of any redevelopment and that will remain in place, should anyone else become responsible for it.”
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Hide AdWhen approached for comment, the site’s new owners McCarthy Stone confirmed a formal planning application would be submitted this summer, following consultation.
A McCarthy Stone spokesperson said: “We can confirm that McCarthy Stone have exchanged contracts on part of the former hospice site.
“We intend to submit a formal planning application this summer, following a period of public consultation in the coming weeks.”
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Hide AdMcCarthy Stone’s website describes the company as “the market leader in retirement living in the UK” and a “provider with purpose” which aims to assist people and “give access to a vibrant, lively community of great neighbours and friends.”
Any planning application for the former St Clare’s site would include a public consultation exercise before a planning decision is made by South Tyneside Council.
A South Tyneside Council spokesperson added: “An application to list the St Clare’s building as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) was submitted and approved in 2022.
“The council’s role in this process is purely administrative, in line with national legislation. The council does not own the site and has no authority over its sale or future use.
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Hide Ad“Under the ACV process, if the owner of a listed asset wishes to sell, a six-week moratorium is triggered to allow community groups to express interest in purchasing.
“If no group comes forward, the owner is free to proceed with the sale.
“In the case of St Clare’s, no community group expressed an interest during this period, no valid approach was made during the initial moratorium and the NHS, as the landowner, proceeded with the sale.”
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