KNUTSFORD Town Council has been successful in protecting the Cottage Hospital from demolition as the British Red Cross continues its efforts to sell the building.

The council had previously seen attempts to get the Northwich Road hospital – the town’s war memorial – ‘listed’ rebuffed by government body Historic England.

Following a request by the town council, Cheshire East Council has placed an ‘Article 4(1) Direction’ (A41D) on the building meaning any future owner wishing to demolish it would have to follow a stringent planning process.

Knutsford Town Council clerk Adam Keppel-Garner said: “The town council has been working to seek to protect the War Memorial Cottage Hospital since the sale was announced and we are pleased to see the A41D has been made. This will help protect the physical building - the town’s war memorial.

“We continue to be in discussion with the British Red Cross on the sale of the building and hope to know who the buyer is later this month.”

The council is also working to ensure proceeds from the sale are ringfenced for future health facilities in the town.

The British Red Cross, which bought the building in 1995, confirmed to the Guardian that no sale had been agreed.

George Peacock, British Red Cross head of property, said: “Once a purchaser has been confirmed, any potential redevelopment will require planning permission from Cheshire East Council. Members of the public would then have the opportunity to engage in the planning process.

“Following the issuing of an A41D by Cheshire East Council, we have contacted the authority to explain we believe there is no planning merit for this.

“British Red Cross services will continue to operate from the building for the time being. In the meantime we are looking for a suitable alternative building to continue supporting people in crisis throughout Cheshire.”

While the hospital building itself is Knutsford’s war memorial, the statue outside it of Knutsford serviceman Haron Baronian, who died in 1917 aged 21, is due to be moved to the Toft Road library gardens to create a new memorial. Plans have been submitted.