This land is adjoining the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, and the sale comes at an important time as Royal Bournemouth becomes the major emergency hospital and Poole becomes the UK’s largest planned care hospital.

UHD confirmed the land, which adjoins the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, will be used immediately as additional temporary parking to benefit patients, visitors and staff.

READ MORE: Plan to cut NHS wait times with Bournemouth and Poole hospitals

Looking ahead, feasibility work will also begin in 2026 to explore the use of geothermal energy on the site, providing a reliable and locally sourced heating solution for the hospital estate.

Plans are also being developed for key worker housing on the land.

UHD said this would help attract and retain staff while easing traffic congestion by allowing hospital workers to live within walking distance of their workplace.

Other healthcare-related uses will be considered as part of a site masterplan due to be developed next year, including education and research facilities.

Siobhan Harrington, Chief Executive of UHD said: “As we prepare for the next stages of delivering better emergency and planned care for our local population, Wessex Fields will help us in delivering even greater benefits. We look forward to working with partners to develop this exciting opportunity.”

Siobhan Harrington, Chief Executive of UHD (Image: NQ staff)

Cllr Mike Cox, BCP Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “The sale of Wessex Fields represents a great opportunity for residents, bringing investment into the area that will regenerate a key site, create new jobs and build world-class medical research and development facilities, alongside hospital keyworker housing.

Cllr Mike Cox (Image: BCP Council)

He added: “Working with partners to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is one of our ambitions, so we’re pleased to be able to sell this land to University Hospitals Dorset.

“This sale also generates a substantial capital receipt for the council; bringing huge benefits to the area and getting best value for our residents.”

The purchase follows wider plans to transform healthcare services across Dorset, including efforts to cut NHS waiting times and improve access to emergency and planned care at Bournemouth and Poole hospitals.