Decision time over multi-storey car park for Dorset County Hospital

Councilors are due to make a decision today (15 September) on plans for a new multi-storey car park near Dorset County Hospital.

If approved, it could pave the way for £62.5 million improvements to expand the hospital's Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit

But, planning officer have recommended members of the North Area Planning Committee refuse the car park on grounds it's too large.

They say the appearance and impact on conservation outweighs the public benefit.

Clinicians are urging councilors to think carefully though, as the Emergency Department was built to see 22,000 patients a year - it currently sees around 50,000 people.

Nick Johnson is the Director of Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships at the hospital.

He said:

"Their judgment is that the impact doesn't outweigh the wider public benefit which for us is surprising given that this new car park, as well as addressing the parking challenges on the Dorchester Hospital site, creates the space and capacity to build a new ED and ICU and it secures the future of the hospital in Dorchester for a generation to come.

"Before we can progress with expanding our clinical facilities we need to free up space on the hospital site by constructing that multi-storey car park and it needs to be of a certain size to replace the lost spaces as well as improving the parking for patients, visitors and staff."

"We're hopeful that the final decision is actually with the councilors on the planning committee. We're hopeful that the councilors will understand and acknowledge and recognise that wider public benefit.

"We'll either be pleased with their decision, or we'll have to go away and think about how we take this forward."

The Northern Area Planning Committee meeting starts today at 10 am.

More as it comes.