6:30pm Friday 20th January 2012
By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter
Proposals for a multi-million-pound hospital redevelopment have been given a major boost.
Planning officers at Brighton and Hove City Council are recommending that councillors approve the £420 million project for Royal Sussex County Hospital.
The development, which would take a decade to complete, includes pulling down and replacing the Barry and Jubilee buildings, which are more than 180 years old and not suitable for 21st century health care.
There would also be an underground car park with 350 spaces and a helicopter pad.
Hospital chief executive Duncan Selbie said: “This is very encouraging. So much depends on this decision.”
The application, submitted last September, has been almost three years in the planning and the design for the new development was changed almost 30 times.
The council received more than 100 responses to the application, with messages of support highlighting the fact that the existing buildings are in a poor state and out of date.
Respondents said that the new buildings would provide more privacy, comfort and dignity for patients.
Objections included concerns about the over development of the site and its impact on surrounding streets and homes.
The Argus has launched the Give us our Hospital campaign, which is calling on the council to approve the plans so that work on the development can start as soon as possible.
Members of the council’s planning committee will have a presentation from officers on Monday ahead of a site visit at the hospital in Eastern Road on Tuesday.
The application will be discussed at a special planning committee meeting on January 27.
See The Argus tomorrow (Saturday, January 21) for a detailed examination of the application and the committee report.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/
