Watford General Hospital’s trust has bought the final plot of land it needs to build the new hospital.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has today (January 5) announced the completion of its purchase of land next to Thomas Sawyer Way.

Trust chief redevelopment officer Alex White said: “This is another major milestone as we move forward with our plans to build a much-needed new hospital to provide our brilliant staff and our patients with the state-of-the-art facilities they deserve.”

The land, needed for the new hospital build, will now be cleared to prepare it for the first stages of construction work.

Work is then expected to begin on levelling the land, preparing retaining walls and foundations, and installing high voltage power cables.

Watford Observer: Programme director for the national New Hospital Programme Saurabh Bhandari (left) and Alex White on the newly acquired land.Programme director for the national New Hospital Programme Saurabh Bhandari (left) and Alex White on the newly acquired land. (Image: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

In early February, the trust and the national New Hospital Programme are set to host an event for major construction companies to visit the site and find out more about the proposals.

A new "fully funded, state of the art" site is set to be built next to the current Watford General Hospital after West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's plans were approved, pending government money.

It is one of 40 new hospitals that were promised to be built by 2030 as part of a government manifesto commitment.