WORK has begun to convert a former mill into a new home for office staff at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Clerical workers in finance and personnel are expected to move from the hospital into the former Acre Mills in early autumn.

The sprawling complex at Acre Street used to house wiremakers Joseph Sykes Brothers, and was bought by the NHS Trust last June.

Scaffolding has now gone up so roof repairs can be made.

The hospital's pharmacy manufacturing unit is set to move to the new site, but no date has been set. The laundry may also be moved to Acre Mills.

Consideration is being given to creating a conference and training centre on the site, along with room for medical staff and other key workers.

David Calderwood, spokesman for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, said no firm decisions had been taken about what hospital services would be housed in the new premises.

"We are doing preliminary work and securing the site," he said.

"The scaffolding is for roof repairs to the area that will be used by personnel and finance staff.

"But there is no update about exactly what else is going to happen.

"It is early days yet and plans are still being sorted out for exactly what services will be there."

Some of the Acre Mills buildings will be re-used by the hospital, but others may be demolished.

Some of the site's 300,000 sq ft area could be used for hospital parking.

The NHS Trust bought the Acre Mills site from Wakefield-based wire and plastic manufacturers Carlco Group last June, in a £6.4m deal.

The Carlco Group retained ownership of Acre Mills despite selling the Joseph Sykes business to Belgium-based wire group Bekaert in 2001.

Baekart closed the Sykes site at Acre Mills in October 2002, with the loss of 150 jobs.

Carlco Group were leasing the Acre Mills buildings to Baekart, but decided to sell to the NHS.