AMBITIOUS plans for a major redevelopment of a hospital accident and emergency department are expected to be given the go ahead next week.

The £30 million proposals at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton are aimed at improving A&E services for patients.

They were announced by chief executive Marianne Griffiths in April.

A report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee is recommending the plans be approved subject to terms and conditions.

These include ensuring at least a fifth of those employed to carry out the work are from the local area.

The application includes a four storey extension to the emergency department, which is based on the north east of the Royal Sussex site in Eastern Road.

The forecourt will be remodelled and the extension will project over the existing ambulance parking and turning area.

A short stay ward will be created with 70 beds and associated administration areas.

The application also includes the refurbishment of the existing emergency department, including upgrading existing facilities and services and providing new lifts.

The development will be done in phases and there will be no break in A&E services.

The application is separate to the major £485m redevelopment of the main Royal Sussex buildings but it will complement it.

The new building will be a contemporary design and the materials would be predominantly metal and wire mesh cladding.

The application had one objection from a resident nearby who was concerned about the noise and disruption and view of the building from his home.

The conservation advisory group raised concerns about the style and the materials proposed and said it would prefer it to more in keeping with the rest of the hospital redevelopment.

The report said: “The current emergency department building is outdated and has insufficient patient capacity.

“It has failed to meet A&E and other performance standards over a number of years.

“The existing layout and physical environment is not fit for purpose and is not meeting national guidelines.”

The department currently has 78 beds, bay and trolley spaces which is well short of the 187 recommended.

The committee meets at Hove town hall on Wednesday at midday.

If the application is approved, hospital bosses are hoping to start work by the end of this month or October.

The aim is to have it finished next year in time for the winter of 2018/19.