NHS Property Services, the company set up to streamline a £3.4bn government property portfolio, sold 145 sites in the past financial year, raising about £97m.
In 2014-15, its second year of operation, the state-owned company released land for 2,061 homes in England – just beating the government’s target of 2,050.
Sites sold included Coldeast Hospital in Hampshire, which was granted planning consent for a 120-home development.
Bassetts Campus in Orpington was also sold, with consent for a residential development with 99 homes.
The company has pledged to continue to exit leases and dispose of assets within its 3,500-property portfolio to meet its target of reducing operating costs by £34m in 2015/16 and £35m in 2016/17.
Financial results for the year ending 31 March 2015 showed an operating revenue of £745.9m – a £45m decrease on the previous year.
This represents a loss of rental income and reduced government grants.
The company’s stated strategy is to release sites that are no longer required for healthcare in order to make significant savings for the NHS.
