THE site of a former hospital in Trowbridge is set to be transformed into new homes.

Marlborough-based developer, Gleeson Homes South West, has bought the old St John's Hospital site and hopes to build 59 new homes.

Rose Haynes of Gleeson Homes said: "St John's Court is set to transform this area of Trowbridge, which has been largely unaltered since 1895.

"The first occupations are expected early next year."

The company, which is also responsible for the Potters Field development at Paxcroft Mead, Trowbridge, wants to build a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes on the 3.5-acre site.

Ms Haynes said: "We are very excited to be building in Trowbridge again.

"A number of new house types will be introduced at the site, providing quality homes in an attractive setting."

Planning permission for the site has yet to be granted.

The history of St John's hospital goes back to the 19th century.

In 1895, following the Isolation Hospital Act of 1893, there was an isolation hospital in Trowbridge, managed by Trowbridge Urban District Council.

In 1900 it was known as Trowbridge and District Joint Isolation Hospital and it had just five beds in 1903.

The hospital changed its name to St John's Hospital in the 1950s .

In 1997 it closed as a hospital and the building was used as offices by Wiltshire Health Care NHS Trust.