Engagement campaign launched to support detailed plans for new hospital

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has revealed the next step in its plans for a new hospital by working to secure full planning consent.

The trust is starting public engagement to support its application for detailed planning consent of its new hospital at Leeds General Infirmary, ahead of the next design stage.

Plans to build a new, state-of-the-art hospital at Leeds General Infirmary will include a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital, a new adults’ hospital and one of the largest, single site maternity centres in the UK.

It will deliver a healthcare facility for more than 1.6 million patients from across the region each year, including 200,000 of its youngest patients and will support the delivery of up to 10,000 babies each year.

The trust gained Outline Planning Consent in 2020 and despite ongoing national delays has since made significant progress with its planning and preparatory works, including having a cleared construction site.

The trust is securing detailed planning consent for its design proposals to ensure the scheme remains in a strong position to keep its plans on track and to minimise the risk of further delays once the outcome of the Government’s review of the New Hospital Programme has been announced.

A public engagement campaign launching today – 12 December – with events beginning in January 2025 will inform and update stakeholders, local councillors, MPs and members of the public on the latest progress, the Trust’s advanced design, and its proposals to secure full planning consent.

Events, workshops and an online information hub will be available for members of the public to obtain updates and pledge support for the new hospital plans.

This engagement will support the preparation and submission of an application for full planning consent, which is now being progressed.

Designed to be more sustainable and harnessing the latest technology, the trust says the new hospital will be more efficient and effective to run as well as reducing the maintenance backlog.

The neighbouring Innovation Village, which will be developed alongside the hospital, will also deliver more than 4,000 jobs and £13bn worth of economic benefit as a destination for research, health tech and digital innovation.

Prof Phil Wood, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We’re committed to our plans for a new hospital, including a new Children’s Hospital here in Leeds.

“Our new hospital is essential to continue to support the delivery of our world-class children’s, maternity and adult services and will bring enormous benefits to patients, staff and communities in Yorkshire and beyond.

“It will also bring excellent value for public money and, by creating an Innovation Village, will deliver the latest technology to patients’ bedside and bring a huge economic boost to the region.

“Our plans for the hospital are among the most advanced and ready-to-go schemes and we’re proud to be among the first trusts to make this positive step forward towards securing full planning consent.

“As a trust, we have been faced with national delays over the past four years which have incurred more than £300m in additional costs to date.

“These delays have continued to place operational and financial challenges on us and we are keen to mitigate the impact of any further national delays and resulting cost increases where we can.

“We continue to engage with the New Hospital Programme on our plans, which have received strong support from MPs alongside regional and national stakeholders.”

People can learn more about the public engagement campaign at: www.leedsth.nhs.uk/about/future/hospitals-future/public-engagement/