Work will begin on Dorset County Hospital’s much anticipated multi-storey car park this month to kick-start a major expansion of clinical facilities. The construction work is being carried out by contractor Willmott Dixon.
The multi-storey car park is the first phase of the development of the Dorchester hospital site to free up land for expanding the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit, as well as establishing an Integrated Care Hub as part of a long-term project to deliver the recommendations of Dorset’s Clinical Services Review.
Nick Johnson, Deputy Chief Executive, Dorset County Hospital, said: “We are delighted to be able to get the building work under way in the New Year. We would like to thank everyone who supported our planning application for the multi-storey as this scheme is the key to unlocking the future expansion of clinical services.
“Our existing Emergency Department and ICU were not built to accommodate the volume of patients we are seeing now. Our clinical teams have responded magnificently to the additional challenges coronavirus has brought, but it is now clearer than ever that we must create additional space and facilities to ensure the safety of our patients. The development of these facilities is vital to make sure we are able to continue to meet the ever-increasing demand on our services and secure the future of Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester for a generation to come.”
Guy Kippen, Development Manager, Prime, said: “We’re thrilled to be commencing this project – the first to be launched under Prime’s Joint Venture Partnership with Dorset County Hospital.
“In getting the project to this stage, we have seen and experienced first-hand the existing issues and problems faced every day by hospital patients, visitors and staff in accessing and parking at the hospital. Whilst this project is a first for Prime in many aspects, it is significant as it unlocks many opportunities for the Trust through our partnership and its masterplan.
“This project will consolidate existing parking areas and latent demand into one location, simplifying vehicle routes and improving parking and wayfinding within the hospital site.
“In addition to these improvements, the project will deliver a 10% net gain in biodiversity improvements.”
The project includes:
- A temporary car park to enable construction
- A 654 space multi-storey car park over seven floors including up to 68 EV charge points
- Hospital estate road widening and improvements
- A new pay on exit parking management system
- A new dedicated disabled parking area
- Improved cycle access and motorcycle parking area.
You can find more details about Dorset County Hospital’s site development plans at: https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/about/site-development/Pages/default.aspx
