Plans backed for new unit in Stafford

Councillors have backed plans for a new breast care unit at County Hospital – but the final approval is not set to be given until the local flooding authority has removed its objection.

More information is needed to demonstrate that an acceptable drainage scheme will be put in place as part of the development at the Weston Road hospital site, the flood authority has said.

On Tuesday (December 10), members of Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee visited the site before considering the application. They were told that there was work that still needed to be completed to address the drainage concerns, but engineers had undertaken the necessary surveys requested.

Tom Hallett, who spoke in support of the application at the committee meeting, added: “The development will deliver a range of important benefits including capitalising on the recent award of NHS England funding and provision of a compliant area for the existing breast care team which will ensure services at County Hospital can develop in line with the aspirations of the trust.

“An important part of the breast care unit is it will enable clinics to run concurrently, allowing improved patient throughput, provision of a new state of the art facility that reflects the latest healthcare design guidance and specifications for breast cancer care pathways, and the development of a new landscaped garden that will allow for quiet reflection and contemplation. Once operational, it is intended there will be a seamless transition of services and equipment, with no consequential increase in activity or staff.

“The new two-storey building is to be located on land at the eastern edge of the hospital, close to A&E, and will have a corridor link to the existing outpatients department. The new unit would replace a former modular office building that has recently been removed from the site.

“Whilst the new unit is larger than the building it is replacing, it is considered that any visual impact will be mitigated by it being set lower than the adjacent outpatients building. By its distinctive architecture, it will be a notable improvement.”

Councillor Scott Spencer raised concern about potential loss of existing trees however. He said: “Whilst I don’t disagree with the scheme in its entirety, and the need for such a building, I do have a bit of an issue with the landscaping and what is proposed.

“I don’t quite understand why the development is losing a proportion of trees; the majority of those lime trees are within the landscaped area that is to be retained. I wonder if we can have an additional condition to try and retain as many of those lime trees as possible.”

Councillors voted in favour of the application at Tuesday’s meeting. They delegated authority to the council’s Head of Economic Development and Planning to approve the application subject to the lead local flood authority (LLFA) removing their objection, conditions already set out and the committee chairman agreeing the attachment of any further conditions recommended by the LLFA to resolve the drainage issue.

Councillor Tony Nixon said: “I think it is a marvellous addition to the hospital for the people of Stafford and Staffordshire. Subject to the flood authority, I propose we accept this; the option is to avoid delays in construction and we certainly don’t want any delays if we can possibly avoid them.”

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More information is needed to demonstrate that an acceptable drainage scheme will be put in place as part of the development at the Weston Road hospital site, the flood authority has said.

On Tuesday (December 10), members of Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee visited the site before considering the application. They were told that there was work that still needed to be completed to address the drainage concerns, but engineers had undertaken the necessary surveys requested.

Tom Hallett, who spoke in support of the application at the committee meeting, added: “The development will deliver a range of important benefits including capitalising on the recent award of NHS England funding and provision of a compliant area for the existing breast care team which will ensure services at County Hospital can develop in line with the aspirations of the trust.

“An important part of the breast care unit is it will enable clinics to run concurrently, allowing improved patient throughput, provision of a new state of the art facility that reflects the latest healthcare design guidance and specifications for breast cancer care pathways, and the development of a new landscaped garden that will allow for quiet reflection and contemplation. Once operational, it is intended there will be a seamless transition of services and equipment, with no consequential increase in activity or staff.

“The new two-storey building is to be located on land at the eastern edge of the hospital, close to A&E, and will have a corridor link to the existing outpatients department. The new unit would replace a former modular office building that has recently been removed from the site.

“Whilst the new unit is larger than the building it is replacing, it is considered that any visual impact will be mitigated by it being set lower than the adjacent outpatients building. By its distinctive architecture, it will be a notable improvement.”

Councillor Scott Spencer raised concern about potential loss of existing trees however. He said: “Whilst I don’t disagree with the scheme in its entirety, and the need for such a building, I do have a bit of an issue with the landscaping and what is proposed.

“I don’t quite understand why the development is losing a proportion of trees; the majority of those lime trees are within the landscaped area that is to be retained. I wonder if we can have an additional condition to try and retain as many of those lime trees as possible.”

Councillors voted in favour of the application at Tuesday’s meeting. They delegated authority to the council’s head of Economic Development and Planning to approve the application subject to the lead local flood authority (LLFA) removing their objection, conditions already set out and the committee chairman agreeing the attachment of any further conditions recommended by the LLFA to resolve the drainage issue.

Councillor Tony Nixon said: “I think it is a marvellous addition to the hospital for the people of Stafford and Staffordshire. 

"Subject to the flood authority, I propose we accept this; the option is to avoid delays in construction and we certainly don’t want any delays if we can possibly avoid them.”