Welwyn Garden City’s old hospital building is disappearing swiftly to make way for new homes and a care home.

Developers will be building a 64-bed, three-storey care home for the elderly and 163 new homes on the old QEII site in Howlands.

They were given planning permission to demolish the vacant hospital in July 2015 and planning applications associated with its development are still being processed by Welwyn Hatfield Council.

Housebuilder Bellway states online: “Bellway at QEII is a striking development of new homes in WGC, which is located around five minutes’ drive from the town centre.

“This collection of apartments and houses is offered in a range of styles, designed to appeal to a variety of audiences, including families, first-time buyers and commuters working in central London, 25 miles away.

“The development is characterised by its large, open spaces, which echo the rural ambience of the surrounding woodland.

“All apartments include allocated parking, while all houses have garages, or parking, and private gardens.

“A quality specification, together with contemporary design features – such as open-plan living spaces, en suite bathrooms and integrated kitchen appliances – can be found across the product mix.”