A piece of ordinary farmland on the edge of Gorleston has been earmarked as the site for the East Coast Hospice.Charity appeal trustees revealed this week that the five-acre field on Sidegate Road has been chosen.

A piece of ordinary farmland on the edge of Gorleston has been earmarked as the site for the East Coast Hospice.

Charity appeal trustees revealed this week that the five-acre field on Sidegate Road has been chosen. Seven different sites were considered in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area during the 18-month search.

It is two years since the launch of the �5m fundraising appeal.

Margaret Chadd House - Margaret Chadd is one of the charity's trustees - would be the the area's first in-patient hospice, featuring accommodation, treatment rooms, a day unit and landscaped garden.

It is hoped planning permission can be secured next year with the opening earmarked for 2011/12.

Hospice appeal secretary David Nettleship said: “A price has been agreed for us to buy the site from Norfolk County Council subject to planning permission being granted. We are looking to recruit a fundraiser and increase the number of our charity shops in the area.

“The hospice appeal raises in the region of �100,000 a year and the aim is to increase that to �250,000.

“This is the preferred location because it is on the A12 corridor with good access to Yarmouth and Lowestoft. There are very few suitable sites in a built-up area so we had to look at a green field.”

A bid is expected to be submitted for Big Lottery Funding towards the cost of building the hospice and the running costs will be shared with Great Yarmouth and Waveney NHS.

The announcement on the location of the hospice follows a review into the area's palliative care services by cancer charity Marie Curie. The hospice would provide both residential and respite care for the terminally ill with treatments including physiotherapy and reflexology. It would employ about 60 staff.

Mr Nettleship added: “We want to provide treatment as good as anywhere in the country, with a palliative care consultant and specialist trained nurses. The emphasis is on helping people to die at home and supporting relatives in dealing with the grieving process with bereavement counselling.

“As a society don't have a good attitude to death and there will also be a focus on informing the wider community about end of life services.”

For more information visit www.eastcoasthospice.co.uk