Ahead of full plans for extensive works at Dorset County Hospital being submitted to Dorset Council, a report to get an opinion from the authority has been lodged.

The report highlights the proposed works and plans, but a full planning application is yet to be submitted.

As well as a new multi-storey car park, the hospital plans to add new facilities, buildings, homes and more.

The plans include new/extended medical and clinical facilities including a new entrance building, new hospital support centre - trust HQ - extension to the emergency department and intensive care unit, rooftop heli-pad. Land at Dorchester Army Reserve Centre is to be used for a temporary heli-pad.

There are also plans for up to 95 key worker accommodation homes, which will be a mixture of terraced, semi-detached houses and apartment blocks up to three storeys high and a new community and primary care health hub.

The proposed scheme will include new vehicular access off Damers Road to serve the extended emergency department and new access off Bridport Road to the proposed residential area. The existing access off Bridport Road and Damers Road will be modified. There will be 1,064 car parking spaces across the campus including 55 accessible bays and 12 motorcycle bays.

There are plans for solar panels, air source heat pumps and a potential for ground source heat pumps and community heating system.

Subject to planning permission, the first full operational year of the new facilities is anticipated to be in 2026/27.

Work to build a multi-storey car park and change the use of a former school field to car parking is under way and hoped to be completed by summer this year.

To see the application, visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk using application number P/ESC/2022/01722.

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