A major planning application has been submitted to Boston Borough Council that could transform one of the town’s most famous landmarks. United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, supported by Bramhall Town Planning Limited, has lodged proposals to redevelop the former Boston United Jakemans Stadium on York Street into a new Community Diagnostic Centre.
The scheme would see the complete demolition of the football ground’s remaining stands, floodlights and club buildings, which have stood empty since the Pilgrims left for their new stadium on the outskirts of town in 2020. For generations, York Street was the beating heart of Boston United. The club first played there in 1933, and over the decades the ground became known as one of the most atmospheric non-league venues in the country. From FA Cup giant killings to Friday night floodlit matches, thousands of fans passed through its gates. After the club’s departure, the stadium fell into disrepair, leaving a large site in the town centre vacant and in need of regeneration.
The Trust’s plan aims to breathe new life into the 1.5-hectare site by constructing a single-storey, purpose-built medical facility. The centre would include MRI and CT scanners, X-ray rooms, consultation suites and assessment areas, designed to serve around 350 patients per day. By separating diagnostic services from acute hospital pressures, the Trust believes waiting times will be reduced and cancellations avoided, allowing patients to receive earlier diagnoses closer to home.
The application highlights the wider benefits for the town. Around 45 full-time and 10 part-time jobs are expected to be created, while the design incorporates 115 parking spaces, electric vehicle charging points and secure cycle storage. Sustainability is a key feature of the project, with modular construction methods allowing the building to be erected quickly and with less disruption. The centre would be powered in part by 72 rooftop solar panels and supported by air source heat pumps, with the design targeting the national benchmark of BREEAM Excellent for environmental performance.
The site’s sensitive location, next to the Grade II listed Gilderdrome Bingo & Dance Hall, has been a major factor in the planning process. Whereas the old York Street stands towered over the neighbouring building, the new design places the centre further back and at a single-storey height, creating a more sympathetic relationship with the heritage asset. Landscaping with new trees and wildflower planting is also planned to soften the setting and deliver a biodiversity net gain.
Because the plans involve the loss of the former football pitch, the Trust has agreed to fund a replacement facility for Boston Town FC Women’s team, in a new pitch located at the Tattershall Road ground. A new full-sized pitch and upgraded changing rooms will be delivered through a Section 106 planning agreement between the developer and the council.
Planning documents describe the development as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to regenerate a long-neglected part of the town and deliver world-class NHS facilities at the same time. The Trust says the York Street project will not only provide urgent healthcare capacity but also restore purpose to a site that has been central to Boston’s identity for almost a century.
Boston Borough Council will now consider the application and seek views from residents and statutory consultees before reaching a decision. If approved, demolition of the old stadium structures could begin later this year, paving the way for construction of the new Community Diagnostic Centre in 2026.
Hooray,what an excellent idea.