I’m very pleased to be able to welcome the news that planning permission for the new Forest of Dean community hospital has been granted.
The new community hospital, based in Cinderford, is part of the wider multi-million-pound investment in healthcare across the constituency, including a new and updated health offer for primary care in Lydney.
The location of the hospital was decided by a Citizens’ Jury in 2018, which was made up of residents from across the Forest of Dean. This project has been informed by public opinion through consultations throughout.
The decision was made by the Planning Committee of the Forest of Dean District Council on Tuesday 8th March.
This planning permission is subject to there being no objections raised by Natural England within their consultation period. This community hospital will provide modern and purpose-built facilities that are fit for the 21st century.
These facilities will include, among others, a Minor Injuries unit, X-ray and radiology, ultrasound services and outpatients’ clinics, endoscopy suite and a purpose-bult therapy gym for rehabilitation.
The community hospital will also have an important children specific focus and will provide a separate children’s waiting area and a children’s clinic.
Access to the site will be via a redesigned junction where the current skate park entrance is located, leading to parking at the front of the site and the building positioned further back. Separate consultation on traffic calming measures around the entrance will be conducted by Gloucestershire County Council.
Planning permission for a new Skate Park at the Miners Field in Cinderford was granted by the council at the same planning meeting.
Work on the new skate park will begin shortly while preparatory work is expected to start on the new hospital site imminently, lasting until June when building work can begin.
I am very pleased that planning permission has been granted and I look forward to seeing the progress of the construction in the coming months of a project that will give our local NHS staff the modern facilities they need. I will keep constituents updated as the building progresses.