The former Newton Abbot Hospital site has been put on the market for an undisclosed sum.

Much like the former Seale-Hayne campus on the outskirts of town, the eventual deal is likely to run into several million pounds.

The future is expected to bring hundreds of new homes to the town centre site as well as commercial opportunities.

Property consultant Alder King has been appointed by NHS Devon to sell the former community hospital for redevelopment.

The 8.5-acre site, in East Street, has several two and three storey buildings, including Grade II listed properties and an area of woodland.

The 110-year-old building became surplus to requirements when the new £25 million state of the art hospital at Jetty Marsh opened earlier this year.

Dominic Rosenbaum, surveyor at Alder King said: 'The site occupies a superb central location in an established residential area and is approximately 200 metres from the main shopping streets of Courtenay Street and Queen Street.

'It offers a range of very attractive listed buildings which have the potential for conversion. There are also opportunities to demolish the unlisted buildings on the site and build new residential accommodation and commercial premises.

'Sites like this, in a central location within an established residential area, rarely reach the market and this represents an ideal opportunity for an experienced developer to revitalise the site and bring new housing and amenities to the town.'

Pat McDonagh, assistant director of business support for NHS Devon, said: 'The former Newton Abbot hospital opened in 1898 and is no longer suitable for delivering modern health and social care.  A sale will bring the site and its buildings back into use and give the area a new lease of life.'

District leader, Cllr Alan Connett, said the site's redevelopment should not be seen in isolation.

'It would be a tragedy if the redevelopment of the rest of Newton Abbot was let down by the former hospital, which is a on key site on one of the main entrances to the town, being allowed to lie empty and deteriorate for a long time like the former Exminster Hospital,' he said.

Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross called for the site's redevelopment to be worthy of its status.

'We really must have a good quality development here and not be forced to work down to the lowest common denominator,' he said.

'We don't want ticky-tacky plastic boxes. This is a sensitive area and a lot of Newton Abbot's nature and character are to be found in the streets around it.'

A spokesman for Teignbridge Council said: 'We would be keen to see this prime town centre site play an important role in the town's future.

'It's a key site and we look forward to seeing an appropriate buyer found.'

The remaining services still operating from the site, renal dialysis and mental health care, will be relocated within the next nine months. 

News of the sale coincided with the appointment of Ann James as chief executive at NHS Devon.

She takes the helm of £1.2 billion organisation following the departure of Dr Kevin Snee.

Interim NHS Devon chief executive Rebecca Harriott will lead the organisation until Mrs James is released from her current contract early next year.