A HOSPICE could be moving to a new home after being given five acres of land for free.

St Catherine’s Hospice supporter Bill Bridges donated the land the hospice in Crawley after seeing the care it gave to his mother and a close friend.

The hospice is now in the early stages of developing plans for a £14 million development at Pease Pottage, near Crawley.

It will form part of a wider housing development of 600 properties being planned by Thakeham Homes.

A public consultation has been launched on the development and the planned hospice.

St Catherine’s has been going for about 30 years and provides care and support to the terminally ill and their families in Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and surrounding areas.

All care is free and provided at the hospice itself in Malthouse Road and in patient’s homes.

However with demand for services growing, the current home is no longer big enough and there is no room for expansion.

Hospice chief executive Giles Tomsett said: “We are absolutely delighted to share these exciting plans with the local community.

“The new space will enable us to care for more people, and ensure both families and their loved ones are as comfortable as they can be.

“We want to support those who need us most, for many years to come. We hope the public will support us in our bid to care for even more people in our community, through engaging with our proposals for this site and in helping us to raise additional funds to realise our plans.”

Thakeham Homes managing director Robert Boughton said: “We understand modern housebuilders need to do more than just build homes - we also need create spaces for a community to develop and thrive and we are committed to delivering that.”

A consultation event is being held at Cottesmore Golf Club on September 29 from 3pm to 8pm.

Anyone unable to attend the event can get more information at www.eastofbrightonroad.org.uk.

People with questions or comments can get in touch with the project team by calling 0800 148 8911 or by emailing info@eastofbrightonroad.org.uk.