Fire-ravaged hospital could finally be replaced

Weybridge Health Centre would replace the community hospital destroyed in 2017

A Surrey hospital destroyed by fire seven years ago could soon be replaced with a "state-of-the-art" NHS healthcare facility.

Weybridge Community Hospital was gutted by a fire in July 2017 and since then, people have been accessing services in temporary buildings at the site.

The NHS has now submitted an application to build Weybridge Health Centre - a two-storey building with 22 consulting rooms and 13 treatment rooms.

The application says the centre will be "accessible to all, easy to navigate" and provide "an uplifting and reassuring environment for its future patients".

Feedback from residents during consultations revealed people would like to see greater provision of X-ray and physio services as well as a walk-in centre, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Car parking was also a key concern for many.

The fire in 2017 was most likely caused by an electrical fault in a wall-mounted air conditioning unit

The application states: "The proposed development will provide a high quality, state-of-the-art health centre, to serve the local community and provide a permanent home for the Phoenix Family Practice, as well as a range of other health care services for the public."

It adds: "The layout has been developed to ensure that the patient and visitor experience is of the highest possible quality."

The original hospital was ravaged in a devastating fire which tore through the building.

It was later discovered the fire was most likely caused by an electrical fault in a wall-mounted air conditioning unit.

The applicant, NHS Property Services, worked with North West Surrey Alliance and NHS Surrey Heartlands to bring the proposal forward.

The organisations have sought to provide a "fit for purpose" building which will "manage increasing future demand and internal and clinical patient environments".

People can comment on the proposals on Elmbridge Borough Council's website until 22 January.

A planning officer is due to decide on the application by 18 March.