Speculative site for new hospital sparks concerns

Two thirds of Frimley Park Hospital contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete

An NHS trust has identified a site on which it hopes to build a new hospital to replace a crumbling facility in Surrey - but says it cannot yet reveal where it is.

Two thirds of Frimley Park Hospital was built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, which is susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture.

Work on its replacement is due to begin in 2030, and there is now speculation the trust wants to build it on Pine Ridge Golf Club, two miles from the current site, which has sparked concern from an MP and a local councillor.

A spokesperson for Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust said it would reveal the location "as soon as commercial confidentiality restrictions have passed".

The trust's "new hospital programme team" was understood to be considering a number of potential locations but Dr Al Pinkerton, MP for Surrey Heath, said he was not reassured "that such consideration has taken place".

He said in a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting: "The team has consistently promoted a preferred site and then shaped the assessment criteria in a way that justifies that choice - without appearing to meaningfully evaluate alternatives."

Councillor Paul Deach, who represents Frimley on Surrey County Council, said he would have "very serious concerns" about Pine Ridge Golf Club as a potential site.

He said: "[The letter] doesn't explicitly name the preferred location for the new Frimley Park Hospital, [but] the clues are leading to intense local speculation that the site is Pine Ridge Golf Club," he said on social media.

"Details in the letter to the secretary of state seems to many local residents to have let the cat out of the bag," he added.

Local councillor Paul Deach said there was "intense speculation" the new healthcare facility could be built on the Pine Ridge Golf Club site

Pinkerton did not name the site in his letter, instead referring to it by its codename, Macbeth, but told the BBC the location was an "open secret".

He said the Macbeth location was unsuitable due to "severe access limitations" which would require "substantial investment and major alterations to the local road network" to resolve.

The MP is calling for the government to carry out a full review of the site selection process.

Meanwhile, Deach said the location would be "an absolute nightmare" from a highways perspective, and widening roads for the project could lead to the compulsory purchase of people's homes.

He said: "Even with upgrades, funnelling hospital traffic through our existing single-lane railway bridges and past our local schools sounds like a recipe for abject gridlock.

"Obviously, this is still speculation until the trust makes an official announcement, but the description is concerningly specific."

Pine Ridge Golf Club said it was aware of the speculation it was an intended location

The trust said announcing it had a preferred site did not mean a final decision had been taken as there would be an independent statutory planning consultation and application process.

The spokesperson said: "In addition, there will be a robust and substantial public engagement and involvement programme immediately following the announcement to hear people's views about modernising our services in the new hospital and across the community."

The trust said it planned to retain some of "the best parts" of the existing site.

Pine Ridge Golf Club told the BBC it was aware of the speculation and it had a "long lease" with landowners Frimley Fuel Allotments.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "No decisions have been made on the site of the new Frimley Park Hospital.

"All assessments follow due process, and any location that's chosen must meet the needs of patients and staff as well as delivering maximum value for taxpayers' money."

Frimley Fuel Allotments has been approached for a comment.