PICTURE GALLERY: First glimpse of luxury new homes at King Edward VII hospital in Midhurst

With its unique Edwardian architecture, the iconic historic listed building stood empty for several years and equipment still remained in the operating theatres when City and Country, which specialises in restoring heritage sites, took ownership of it. Now the former sanitorium is looking towards a bright future, with the first stage complete and ready for sale in a few weeks’ time.

Restoration Man's George Clarke, impressed by the newly restored Edward VII building.

IT was the development the sceptics said would never happen, but after years of restoration, the first apartments in the former King Edward VII hospital have been unveiled.

A MAJOR part of the restoration was the demolition of the buildings attached to the main sanitorium, which doubled the footprint of the  original hospital.

The first phase of works to the sanitorium began with demolitions during early 2013. Efforts were then concentrated on the restoration of the external facades before moving to the internal areas for the structural alterations to form the 42 apartments.

An exclusive community, the King Edward VII estate will even have a concierge service available to residents seven days a week.

The Grade II listed chapel on the KEVII site has undergone full restoration and is planned to take pride of place as a café and shop for the benefit of residents.

An exclusive basement swimming pool will eventually include changing facilities, a sauna,  steam-room and jacuzzi.

The residents’ basement gym will offer work-out and resistance equipment, while in the wider estate, adjacent to Lords Common, there will be a new tennis court.

In the main sanitorium building, the former dining hall has become a lounge area for residents.

The south-facing reading room will be a quiet sanctuary for apartment-owners to enjoy the views of the Gertrude Jekyll gardens.

Both spaces are planned to be available to hire for functions by residents and there will also be on-site guest accommodation available to book, for visiting friends and family, at a market rate.

Developers Millgate bring to the estate a collection of eight bespoke country homes. The large family homes are in a corner of the King Edward VII estate and will all feature five bedrooms, some split over two floors and others over three. Prices will start from £1,600,000.

Also on the estate, house-builder Cala Homes will be developing a range of three-bedroom mews cottages and four-bedroom detached new homes at Bracken Lane and Superintendents Drive.