Five firms have been shortlisted to rebuild Bicester’s community hospital.

The move comes after health authority NHS Oxfordshire advertised for the redevelopment of the hospital in a European journal.

It confirmed none of the shortlist of bidders had secured land on an alternative site to that of the current hospital in King’s End.

This means the hospital will remain on its present site with the campaigners’ favoured location, on land at the new Kingsmere estate, off Oxford and Middleton Stoney Roads, effectively dropped.

Project manager Riana Relihan said a total of 11 firms had expressed an interest in redeveloping the community hospital.

She said: “The PCT has undertaken a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) process to enable us to create a shortlist of organisations that have the potential to deliver the new hospital facilities. The PQQ process evaluates an organisation’s economic and financial standing, technical/professional ability and capacity and legal status.

“With regard to the option of reproviding the hospital facilities on an alternative site in Bicester the PCT has consulted the shortlisted bidders and none of them have secured suitable alternative sites which would allow for the completion of the development, within the timetable required of the PCT.

“Over the next few months the PCT will be working individually with the shortlisted organisations to establish prospective schemes that will deliver the new hospital facilities for Bicester.”