Councillors set to consider plans for new breast care unit at County Hospital

More information is needed to demonstrate that an acceptable drainage scheme will be put in place, the flood authority has said. If the objection is lifted before Tuesday’s meeting however, (December 10) Stafford Borough councillors are recommended to approve the new building at the Weston Road site.

University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust has submitted the application for the two-storey building, which is proposed to provide diagnostic facilities and clinic space. It is earmarked for land at the eastern edge of the hospital and will have a corridor link connection to the existing outpatients department.

A report to the borough council’s planning committee said: “The proposed building would replace a modular building which has recently been removed from the site. Whilst the proposed building is substantially larger and taller than the building it would replace, it is considered that any visual impact would be largely mitigated by it being set lower than the adjacent outpatients building and by the distinctive architecture, which the council’s design advisor states would be a notable improvement.

“The development would facilitate the relocation of an existing unit from elsewhere in the hospital to a new bespoke facility to provide care to hundreds of patients per year. It would, therefore, facilitate the operations of the hospital, an existing and vital facility within the town.

“There is no proposed alteration to the existing vehicular access or car parking provision which surpasses 650 parking spaces for staff and visitors. The proposed development would not increase the activity of the clinical team and therefore the staff levels and patient numbers would remain similar to the existing arrangement.

“At the time the report was published the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) maintained an objection to the proposal on the basis that the applicant had not demonstrated that a satisfactory drainage scheme can be achieved in the absence of a CCTV survey of the existing drainage network.

“On this basis it is recommended that (the committee resolve to approve the application subject to the conditions listed should the LLFA have removed their objection, or, in the event of the LLFA maintaining their objection, that (the) committee resolve to delegate authority to the Head of Economic Development and Planning to approve the application subject to the LLFA removing their objection, the conditions set out in the agenda and the committee chairman agreeing the attachment of any further conditions recommended by the LLFA to resolve the drainage issue.”