New hospital to be built on former police land

The hospital is one of those that was built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)

Plans to rebuild Hinchingbrooke Hospital have taken another step forward as new land has been acquired. North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has secured around six-hectares of former Cambridgeshire Police land and associated highways land.

This forms part of the Hinchingbrooke Hospital Redevelopment Programme. Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon was built in 1983 and is one of four in the East of England with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in some of its walls and roof, causing ongoing structural issues.

The land acquisition represents a significant milestone in plans to develop a modern new hospital at Hinchingbrooke, which was added to the New Hospital Programme in May 2023. It will provide the land required to deliver critical infrastructure that supports the future redevelopment programme, the trust said.

The land will, subject to planning consent, enable the creation of a new access road, around 682 parking spaces, environmental mitigation works and low-carbon energy infrastructure, helping prepare the site for future development and construction activity.

The redevelopment programme is designed to address the challenges associated with ageing hospital infrastructure while ensuring healthcare services can continue to meet the needs of a growing population across Huntingdonshire and surrounding communities, the trust said.

The project will also aim to improve access to the hospital site and support measures to reduce congestion in the surrounding area, benefiting patients, visitors, staff and local residents.

Senior Responsible Officer for Hinchingbrooke Hospital Redevelopment, Deborah Lee, said: “Reaching agreement on this land acquisition is a major milestone for the Hinchingbrooke Hospital Redevelopment Programme. Securing this site will allow us to deliver the vital infrastructure needed to support our plans for a modern hospital that meets the needs of our patients, staff and communities for decades to come.”

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Darryl Preston added: “As owner of the police estate in Cambridgeshire, I have a duty to ensure that land no longer needed for policing purposes is used in a way that delivers the greatest benefit to the public. Once finalised, this sale will help improve access to local healthcare facilities, providing a positive outcome for residents and the wider community.”

The transaction remains subject to legal completion and final approvals as well as the transfer back of land to the PCC from National Highways following completion of the Views Common scheme.