Outline permission secured for enhanced facilities at hospital
A state-of-the-art pathology facility is set to be developed at the St James’s University Hospital, in Leeds.
Planning consultants Lichfields have secured outline permission for the building on behalf of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
It will serve hospitals across Leeds, West Yorkshire and neighbouring areas.
Lichfields’ planning director, Jonathan Standen, said: “We are delighted to have contributed in delivering planning permission for another world-class healthcare facility in support of the Building the Leeds Way programme.
“The delivery of permissions for both the new Pathology facility at St. James’s Hospital and last year, the new Adults and Children hospitals at the Leeds General Infirmary, demonstrate the capability of Lichfields to deliver across a range of projects.”
Many of Leeds Teaching Hospital’s Pathology services are currently housed in outdated facilities in the Old Medical School at Leeds General Infirmary.
Most of those services, as well as some of those delivered from St James’s University Hospital, will be incorporated into the new building.
Phillip Wood, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and a consultant immunologist, said: “I am delighted this has been given the go ahead by Leeds City Council and appreciate the efforts of Lichfields in securing this.
“The trust is a world-leader in Pathology and this facility will enable staff and partners to work in an environment that reflects and enhances the leading-edge services they provide.
“Demand for Pathology services has continued to grow from year to year and has played an absolutely vital role in the current coronavirus outbreak.”
Demolition of old buildings on the St James’s site is expected to begin later this year with the new property scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2023.
Late last year Lichfields successfully secured permissions on behalf of the trust for a £650m adults hospital with operating theatres and critical care facilities and a children’s hospital, together with a 650 space multi-storey car park.
