Extra parking spaces planned for 'overcrowded' hospital

A canopy of solar panels is set to be built at the hospital, but this will put 302 parking spaces of out use

A helicopter pad is set to be replaced by an extra 150 parking spaces at an "overcrowded" hospital.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has applied for planning permission for the spaces to be added to the existing car park at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Torfaen.

They are intended to compensate for the temporary loss of 302 spaces while solar panel coverings are fitted - a process expected to take up to seven months in 2026.

The health board said the move would help address parking issues at the site including overcrowding and risks to pedestrians, adding the application was being considered Torfaen Borough Council's planning department.

The health board applied to the council for planning permission in May for a canopy with solar panels, which will cover existing spaces at the hospital car park.

Work to erect the solar panels is due to start in 2026 and will be split into four phases, with each phase likely to impact between 60 and 100 parking spaces at a time.

A planning statement submitted with the application warns: "The Grange site suffers from significant parking issues due to overcrowding and this has resulted in vehicles being parked causing obstruction and creating danger for pedestrians."

It added the solar panel works would temporarily "exacerbate" these issues and "there is real concern that a serious incident could occur and therefore some form of mitigation is required".

The land is at the southern end of the hospital site and beyond the existing overflow car park.

According to the application form, the land is currently used as "a secondary helicopter landing area".

The solar panels will cover a total of 220 spaces but the work will impact 302 spaces due to the need for a site compound, safety zones and temporary alternative access routes.

The net increase in parking spaces will be 143, as seven spaces will replace the ones lost to provide a wide enough access from the existing parking area.