Watford General Hospital plans unanimously approved

A “major outline application” for the demolition of hospital buildings and construction of an emergency care hospital with up to 1,000 beds, as well as other smaller changes, was approved at a Watford Borough Council meeting yesterday evening (September 5).

Approval was described as a “milestone”, but it is not the end of the process as reserved matters will still need to be separately green-lit and the government has been urged to “get on with” making funds available.

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Councillors had already indicated their support for the application in July 2021, but some legal agreements were left unfinished, so the approval was never formally signed off.

Watford MP Dean Russell said he was “thrilled” approval was granted. He added: “I am immensely proud of the progress that has been made so far, and I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has been part of our campaign.

“I want to assure our community that I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the hospital is delivered on time and that our community receives the world-class healthcare it deserves.”

Watford General Hospital sign (Image: West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust)

Labour group leader Nigel Bell was also pleased with the result but added that it was now on government to “get on with” the works, which are supposed to be completed by 2030, and make the funds available.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Watkin said: “Funding is at best unclear. Evidence has tended to show that funding doesn’t flow as well as the health authority would like, and maybe as this authority - which is keen to see a hospital on this site of some sort - would like.”

The Westminster government has promised to put money towards Watford General Hospital, from its New Hospital Programme worth more than £20billion.

Artists impression of the new hospital (Image: West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust)

But there are 17 hospitals ahead of Watford in the queue for cash - among them seven built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).

In May, Health Secretary Steve Barclay MP confirmed the Hertfordshire project can proceed and that it “will be constructed using the Hospital 2.0 standardised approach”.

Chief redevelopment officer for the NHS in West Hertfordshire Alex White said: “We are working closely with the New Hospital Programme on the development of Hospital 2.0.

“Whilst Hospital 2.0 is still being developed by the New Hospital Programme, we do not anticipate it affecting our design or timeline.”