The sale of surplus land at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey has been completed; this marks an exciting development that will pave the way for major healthcare improvements locally.
The land, which was not fully utilised and housed outdated buildings, was owned jointly by Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals and Surrey and Borders Partnership. After two years of detailed work by the Trusts’ teams including an extensive consultation with the local community, Runnymede Borough Council passed the resolution to approve the planning application in November last year, enabling the land to go out to bids and agree a sale.
A sale agreement has now been reached with homebuilder CALA Homes, who plan to create a high quality development of 212 one to five bedroom homes and 166 retirement apartments. There will also be 147 new affordable and keyworker apartments, which will make an important contribution to solving the borough’s housing shortage.
CALA will now consult closely with the local community as it prepares to submit a planning application over the summer. Demolition work is likely to start in the autumn with construction work on the new homes commencing next year.
Suzanne Rankin, Chief Executive at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this land sale has been completed and the money raised opens up some very exciting opportunities to improve services and facilities at the hospitals for patients and colleagues.
Our transformational plans include new 21st century urgent and emergency care facilities including a new Urgent Treatment Centre, integrated assessment areas and ward space. Also, a new multi-storey car park, redeveloped main hospital entrance that provides better amenities for patients and visitors and ‘Team ASPH’ Wellbeing Centre for colleagues. We will be sharing much more detail of the transformation that is going to take place shortly as the sale of this land is just one, very important, part of the picture. Suffice to say, the future is very exciting and positive change for patients and the team is imminent! We are determined to work with colleagues, partners and local citizens to ensure that the benefit of this sale is fully realised as the once in a generation community benefit opportunity it is.”
Justin Wilson, Chief Medical Officer at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The sale of this land will allow us to much enhance the quality of our inpatient care for adults, including older people, with mental health problems. We will build en-suite facilities for all and remove all dormitories at the Abraham Cowley Unit at St Peter’s, whilst increasing bed numbers on the site and improving the environment for staff and visitors. We also plan, through a coordinated programme of improvements, to work more collaboratively with Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals to achieve more joined up physical and mental health care.”
Rob Hall, land director for CALA Homes (Thames), comments: “CALA has worked closely with the Trusts to bring forward this site for development and unlock funds for major improvements to local hospital services. This is a flagship site for CALA and we look forward to creating an exciting scheme that will provide high quality homes for many generations to come.”
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals’ Transformation Programme begins with build of new multi deck car park
On 7th October the main Outpatients car park at St Peter’s Hospital will close until July 2020 and work will begin on a new, multi deck car park for patients and visitors. Parking has been a challenge at St Peter’s for many years and the new car park, which will have 700 spaces, will help us to greatly improve the situation for patients, visitors and staff.
The new car park is just the first step of an exciting three year investment programme to radically transform services and facilities at Ashford and St Peter’s. This will include a new Urgent and Emergency Facility at St Peter’s, along with improved retail and catering facilities at both sites.
Throughout the works, the overall number of parking spaces available to patients and visitors will remain approximately the same, but the spaces will be in a different location. New signposting will help to guide people to these areas. Access to the main hospital buildings will remain the same to pedestrians, but there will be restricted access for vehicle drop off and pick up at the main entrance with temporary traffic lights in place. Blue badge spaces have been created in the old Accident and Emergency car park, which will also have wheelchairs and assistance for those less able. For those who may wish to use public transport, the Trust has agreed an increased service of the 446 bus route, from Woking to Staines, via St Peters and Chertsey, offering an alternative method of transport; the white bus website has the updated timetable, www.whitebus.co.uk/bus-services/446
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals’ Director of Estates and Facilities, Chris Bell, said: ‘We know that car parking can cause frustration and change can bring worry but this is a great opportunity to improve the parking facilities for all of our patients, visitors and staff. We are working hard to get clear signage in place and have a team of volunteers on hand to help direct people around the site. We are also sending updated parking information to patients with future appointments. If you do have any difficulties finding your way around please do ask any member of staff for help. I’d also like to thank people in advance for their patience and understanding during this time.’
All the information about the planned parking changes are on our website, www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/car-park-changes so please do take a look and where possible, plan your visit in advance.www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/car-park-changes