NURSES accommodation at Leighton Hospital is to be demolished to make way for a car park.

Hospital chiefs have applied to Cheshire East Council for planning permission to knock down the outdated buildings on the eastern side of the medical complex as part of their long-term redevelopment plans.

Currently, the half-century-old buildings are mainly used as offices, while nurses who require accommodation, including overseas staff, are housed in more modern facilities at the former Manchester Metropolitan University's student blocks in Crewe.

Additional parking space is needed as the building of an Emergency Department extension has swallowed up space on an existing car park. Mid Cheshire Hospitals provided 77 spaces on the site's maternity car park after contractors moved onto the A&E car park earlier this year.

The hospital's staff car park was also extended to include 300 new spaces to be used as an overflow for patients and visitors.

Part of the nurses block will be retained as on-site accommodation for medical staff to use, such as for those who are on-call.

A Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "The planning application is part of our long-term ambition to redevelop Leighton Hospital and provide a state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable facility for our staff and the local community.

"Our plans, which are subject to national funding, will see us convert the residences area of the hospital into car parking spaces, to offset the loss of any parking areas that will be used for new and improved facilities."

A planning statement says the buildings have "asbestos and fire compartment issues" and asbestos-containing materials will be removed by licensed contractors.

Council planners will determine the application under their delegated powers with work due to start at the end of next month. It should be completed by March next year.