Plans Advance for Replacement of Fire-Destroyed Surrey Hospital

An NHS healthcare facility described as “state-of-the-art” may soon replace a Surrey hospital that was destroyed by fire seven years prior. Weybridge Community Hospital was extensively damaged by a fire in July 2017, leading to services being provided from temporary structures on the premises ever since. The NHS has now filed an application for the construction of Weybridge Health Centre, which is planned as a two-storey structure featuring 22 consulting rooms and 13 treatment rooms. According to the application, the centre is intended to be “accessible to all, easy to navigate” and to offer “an uplifting and reassuring environment for its future patients”. Consultations with residents indicated a desire for increased availability of X-ray and physio services, along with a walk-in centre, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Additionally, car parking was identified as a significant issue by numerous individuals. The application specifies: “The proposed development will provide a high quality, state-of-the-art health centre, to serve the local community and provide a permanent home for the Phoenix Family Practice, as well as a range of other health care services for the public.” It further notes: “The layout has been developed to ensure that the patient and visitor experience is of the highest possible quality.” The initial hospital building was severely damaged by a destructive fire that spread throughout its structure. Subsequent investigations determined that an electrical fault within a wall-mounted air conditioning unit was the probable cause of the fire. NHS Property Services, the applicant, collaborated with North West Surrey Alliance and NHS Surrey Heartlands to advance this proposal. These organizations have aimed to deliver a “fit for purpose” building designed to “manage increasing future demand and internal and clinical patient environments”. The public has the opportunity to submit comments on these proposals via Elmbridge Borough Council’s website until 22 January. A planning officer is scheduled to make a decision regarding the application by 18 March.