Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has purchased land at Junction 7 of the M3 to ensure the site remains an option on which to build a new hospital in the future.
Whilst the land, situated south of Basingstoke, has been secured, a decision on the location for a new hospital has not been made.
Bought with ringfenced national New Hospital Programme funds, the purchase helps avoid risks such as future cost increases or the site becoming unavailable. For the foreseeable future, the land purchased will continue to be farmed.
Hampshire’s new hospital is in
Wave 3 of the national New Hospital Programme, with construction of a new hospital expected to begin between 2037 and 2039.
Without a new hospital on the immediate horizon, the Trust is taking proactive steps to maintain and improve its current estate and are ensuring priority improvements are made to make sure its buildings are fundamentally safe and fit for purpose for patients and staff.
Sue Harriman, Chief Executive at Hampshire Hospitals says: “Whilst no decision has been made on the location of a new hospital, by purchasing the land now we are taking steps to ensure we are in the best possible position for the future.
“We continue to face challenges. Our population is changing, our buildings are ageing, and there is still a need to address issues around the sustainability of our services for the future. With a new hospital not on the immediate horizon, we are working with our partners to look at how we provide services to meet current and future population needs and plan responsibly for the years ahead.”
If the site is not required for a new hospital, Hampshire Hospitals is able to sell the land in future without any financial loss to the Trust.
