Plans in for major new hospital in Bury St Edmunds

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has submitted outline plans to build a major new hospital in Bury St Edmunds.Plans by the Trust to create a 100,000 sq m new district hospital are being advanced as one of 40 new hospitals to be built by 2030 as part of the Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan.It argued that building a new facility was of “critical importance” given the current issues with the existing 1970s concrete hospital building.The trust said that assessment of existing external roof and wall panels formed from precast reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels indicated structures are approaching the end of their serviceable life.Designed by Ryder Architecture with Hoare Lea as M&E consultant, the new hospital will consist of buildings rising from four and seven storeys high that will be built within the Hardwick Manor parkland setting.The existing West Suffolk Hospital buildings on the Hardwick Lane site to the north of the planned new hospital will be demolished and provide for a new multi-storey car park.Programme planWest Suffolk Hospital2022 – 2023 – detailed design and reserved matters planning application Q4 2024 – Q1 2025 – Mobilisation and site establishmentQ1 2025 – Q2 2027 – ConstructionQ2 2027 – Q4 2027 – occupation including equipment installations and training;Q1 2028 – Phase 1 OperationQ1 2028 – Q2 2028 – Demolition of redundant buildings on the Hardwick Lane site.The hybrid application seeks outline planning permission for the construction of a new hospital and associated access and infrastructure and full planning permission for the change of use to the Hardwick Manor building as well as temporary permission for use of the field to the west of the Site as a construction compound.