Chancellor approves £353m Black Country super hospital

CHANCELLOR George Osborne has given his approval for the 670-bed Midland Metropolitan Hospital to be built on land in Smethwick.

Local politicians are suggesting the hospital could be a catalyst for large-scale regeneration in the area.

The £353m ‘super hospital’ will be funded by both the public and private sectors  through a PFI (private finance initiative) deal.

The hospital will replace large parts of Sandwell Hospital and City Hospital in Winson Green, Birmingham.

Osborne said: “This ambitious package will ensure that patients across the West Midlands continue to benefit from access to world-class acute treatment and cutting edge facilities.”

Construction work on the hospital is expected to begin on a site at Grove Lane in Smethwick in 2016 and finish in 2019.

Under PFI 2 guidelines the taxpayer takes a share of up to 49% in new projects with the rest coming from private investors.

Some £100m of public money would be used to build the new hospital.

Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper said: “I think the new hospital will serve both Sandwell and west Birmingham well.

“This is a massive investment for Smethwick and this will be the catalyst for the total regeneration of Cape Hill in particular.”