Major building work on new hospital facilities in Dorchester has moved forward after Dorset Council granted full planning permission for the scheme, but the full business case still needs to be approved by the Government.
Tilbury Douglas was appointed in June 2022 to build a new emergency department and critical care unit for Dorset County Hospital. The project is part of the government’s new hospitals programme, which is a 2019 pledge by then health secretary Matt Hancock to build or replace 40 hospitals by 2030.
A spokesman for the contractor said Construction news which was awaiting confirmation from Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to start the foundations. Tilbury Douglas divisional manager Paul Gale said the construction team was “ready for the next stages of construction”.
Main construction of the new unit is expected to begin in the summer of 2024, subject to final government approval. CN it is understood that the full business case will be presented in December this year. Data intelligence provider Glenigan estimates the scheme is worth £80m.
The 11,000 square meter development will provide a mental health centre, a pediatric emergency area and an additional 24 critical care beds, bringing the total to 35. The building will feature a rooftop helipad, a arrival of ambulances and a rapid assessment area.
The new unit will occupy the site of the former Damers School building, which Tilbury Douglas demolished over the summer.
Chief Executive of Dorset County Hospital, Matthew Bryant, said: “This development is very important for the people of Dorset and will provide a much larger, state-of-the-art facility for patients who need it most care that saves lives.”
