Plans to build a new West Herts NHS Trust health campus in a town centre have received £200,000 funding.

Dacorum Borough Council’s cabinet has allocated the money towards the next stage of drawing up proposals for a facility at Hemel Hempstead's vacant market square space.

The facility would provide a space for the delivery of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust services “within more modern, fit for purpose, premises”, improve the health and wellbeing of residents “in the Dacorum area and beyond”, and give the area an overall boost by bringing the site back into use, it said.

Jane Halpin, CEO of Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “We want to work with the council and the local community to see how services currently on the Hemel Hempstead Hospital site, as well as primary care and potentially mental health and community services, could be brought together into a purpose-built and accessible facility.”

During the next stage of drawing up plans, the project team are set to look into whether other development, such as housing and retail units could also be included.

The partnership, including the NHS trust, ICB, and council, would then develop a business case around the services it would be able to provide, the suitability of the site, costs, ways to deliver it, and land valuations.

Trust chief redevelopment officer Alex White said: “We’re excited by the benefits the proposed health campus could bring to our local communities in Dacorum and look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to progress this project further.”

Council cabinet member Sheron Wilkie added: “This project has the potential to deliver many benefits for Dacorum’s residents.

“It would improve the health and wellbeing of our community by providing health care services, a range of clinical facilities, and other NHS services in an easily accessible location all under one roof. 

“As a centre from which we can promote health and wellbeing, the Hemel Health Campus could act as a catalyst to regenerate Hemel Hempstead town centre, supporting the local economy and driving footfall.”