Leighton Hospital’s emergency department could soon expand by more than 4,000 square metres, writes Ethan Davies.
Health chiefs have submitted a planning application to add a two-storey modular extension to the site’s accident and emergency department, which will be installed in the car park.
The modular building will contain space for resuscitation, mental health assessment and paediatric suites, and CT and X-Ray services — as well as administration facilities on the first floor.
In a statement to planners, agents DAY Architectural said: “Architecturally, the proposal for the expansion is a modular response to the existing department, working closely with Premier Modular to deliver an efficient, cost and time effective solution to the existing site through extensive contextual research in order to achieve a contemporary solution appropriate to the surrounding environment.
“Through a modular approach, the extensions internal floor layouts are both efficient and considered with a sense of inward privacy appropriate to its internal usage.
“Yet external views are maximised from the first floor office and staff areas, forming a clear rationale for exterior window treatment and articulation.”
As part of the £9 million project, the emergency department’s 150-space car park will be closed in phases, with it being completely sealed off by February 15.
That leaves the main and maternity unit car parks as the largest sites open for patients, with latter able to be expanded using moveable water-filled barriers.
You can view the plans on Cheshire East’s planning website using the reference 21/0147N.
I’m sorry but with Car Parking being the biggest issue for all visitors to Leighton, closure of the A&E Car Park will further exacerbate an already impossible situation. What are the plans for additional parking, where and when can this be available for use?
Just where are we patients supposed to park then, the alternative car parks are already busy? How about under or on top of the new building? Certainly don’t want the hospital to sprawl outwards any further. Imaginative solutions are called for here.