Plans for a new accommodation complex for NHS staff and students working at Yeovil Hospital have been given the green light by the South Somerset District Council planning department under its delegated powers.
Plans for a new accommodation complex for NHS staff and students working at Yeovil Hospital have been given the green light by the South Somerset District Council planning department under its delegated powers.
Work can now progress on plans for the buildings, designed by One Creative Environments Ltd (One), which would provide high quality accommodation for people working and studying at Yeovil Hospital.
Located just off the A30 at Reckleford, the keyworker accommodation will be built on the site of the town’s former Nautilus Works, an area which currently stands derelict. The complex will provide 176 bedrooms in total, in a mixture of one, two, four and eight bedroom apartments. The plans also include shared living spaces and landscaped gardens to encourage socialising and relaxation.
The scheme will be funded and delivered through Yeovil Hospital’s strategic estates partnership with Interserve Prime. To date, the joint venture between the Trust and Interserve Prime has delivered the Hospital’s new multi-storey car park and link road, an Emergency Assessment Unit, main entrance refurbishment and an extension to the special care baby unit.
Shelagh Meldrum, Deputy Chief Executive of Yeovil Hospital, said “This exciting new development, which is just a few minutes’ walk away, will provide modern, high-quality accommodation to those working on the frontlines of our hospital – the nurses, doctors, and healthcare staff providing patient care day and night.
“It’s an important part of our commitment to staff wellbeing and an investment into the workforce of the future, helping us attract new employees and adding to the vibrancy of the local community.”
Julian Kavanagh from Interserve Prime said: “We are very pleased that the scheme has been given the go-ahead by the local planning authorities. The development will be ideally located, less than 500m from the hospital, and will provide affordable housing to many of the hardworking and dedicated NHS staff and students of Yeovil Hospital.
“As well as benefitting the hospital and its staff – particularly when recruiting new employees – the keyworker accommodation complex will also regenerate a brownfield site in the town, which has stood derelict for a number of years.”
