New hospital takes 'significant step forward'

Plans for a new state-of-the-art hospital to replace one built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) that is now crumbling are gathering pace.

A "hybrid" planning application has been submitted to rebuild James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, with a larger complex, to include a multi-storey car park and access roads.

The hospital serves up to 250,000 people in east Norfolk and Waveney, including Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Jo Segasby, hospital group chief delivery officer, said the submission of the application to Great Yarmouth Borough Council was a "significant step forward".

She continued: "The proposed design is ambitious and makes the best use of the space available to deliver a new hospital for communities on the east coast."

Feedback from local residents, staff and patients about the plans so far had been listened to by the team, Ms Segasby added.

The hospital first revealed its plans in March, which showed it could be 10 storeys high and have 630 beds - 80 more than currently.

Higher buildings will be concentrated into the centre of the site to lessen the impact on nearby residents.

All new wards would also have single en-suite bedrooms "in line with international standards", the hospital said.

Proposals show it will be built on hospital-owned land to the west of the current hospital, which will remain in use during the project before being demolished.

It is understood a number of existing buildings at the site will be retained, including the education and training centre, renal unit, Louise Hamilton Centre and MRI suite.

Work is due to begin in 2027 or 2028, and the project could cost up to £1.5bn.

It is one of seven hospitals in England affected by Raac and will be rebuilt alongside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn as part of a single programme.

JPUH had to put supports in for the concrete earlier this year due to it crumbling away in parts of the building.

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