Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital has cleared its final hurdle after the Government approved its new multi-storey car park – and work is expected to start next month.
The full business case for the new car park received a sign-off last week from the Joint Investment Committee of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.
Approval of the full business case confirms the project can proceed into delivery and that it offers value for money, the QEH says.
Preparation work on the site for the MSCP will begin in early June
This follows on from the recent announcement that the hospital has purchased land north of the site to enable the rebuild to proceed.
Building of the car park will begin soon. Preparation work began earlier this year with the creation of a new bus stop to relocate the current stop closer to the site entrance, which will be open from Tuesday, May 26.
Preparation of the site for the main works will begin in early June, with construction of the multi-storey car park building starting at the end of July.
This will free up the land needed so the new hospital can be built on the current main car park.
A total of 1,335 spaces will be created across six levels and have been designed to offer larger spaces to accommodate modern cars and a two-lane exit with automatic number plate recognition.
Payment for the car park will be on the exit for patients with smart signage to show where spaces are available.
Natalie Forrest, chief programme officer for the QEH’s New Hospital Programme, said: “The approval of the multi-storey car park business case is an important milestone for The QEH and a significant step towards delivering a modern, sustainable new hospital for patients, staff and the local community.
“The car park is a critical enabling project, creating the space needed for construction of the new hospital to begin while improving the experience for patients and visitors in the years ahead.”
North West Norfolk MP James Wild added: “Delivering a new QEH is my priority, and having raised this regularly with ministers, I am delighted approval has now been granted for the final business case for the multi-storey car park.
“This is the key enabling project, freeing up the existing car park where the new hospital will be built.
“Work is set to start in July, which will be a major milestone in securing the new QEH for patients, staff, and our community.”
South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy said: “This decision by the Joint Investment Committee of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, along with the Labour Government’s £1.4 billion investment to build a new Queen Elizabeth Hospital, shows that this Government is committed to ensuring the people of West Norfolk receive a world-leading hospital and the highest quality of care.
“Labour has always been the party of health, and this decision will ensure our rural communities in West Norfolk feel the difference of a Government that prioritises and invests in our healthcare services.
“We are the party that created the NHS almost eighty years ago, and we are the party that is rebuilding it for this new era, making it better for patients, staff and families, and fit for the future.”
Peter Cox, project director for the New QEH, said: “This approval is excellent news for our patients and our programme, giving us the green light to move ahead with our multi-storey car park, a key step towards our new hospital.
“I’m incredibly proud of the New QEH team. They have delivered a scheme that not only meets the needs of our local hospital but has also set the standard nationally for future hospital car parks. That is a real achievement for everyone involved.”
Josie Baldry, senior project manager for the New QEH, said: “With this approval, our contractor can continue with the excellent progress being made to ensure we are ready to put spades in the ground for our new car park.
“The progress made so far with the relocation of the bus stop is fantastic, and I look forward to us starting on the main building.”