Royal Oldham primed for expansion

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has set in motion a plan to extend its flagship Royal Oldham Hospital site.

The application, to be considered next week, relates to a site located within the existing Royal Oldham Hospital site immediately to the west of the main building. The proposal calls for the demolition of the existing two-storey brick K block, and the single-storey timber Anti-Coagulation Clinic, along with ancillary storage and parking areas.

The trust hopes to build in its place a four-storey extension to the main building, to provide two 24-bed wards along with ancillary space and storage facilities.

The new building, comprising 64,000 sq in total including rooftop plant, will connect to the main hospital building at all levels, and will include an open central atrium.

Arup, engaged as planning advisor to the trust, said in its statement of community involvement that the extension will be surrounded by a new landscaping scheme, including new tree planting which will link the extension to Fountain Gardens, which is described as “the highly valued ‘green heart’ of the existing hospital site”.

TPM Landscape is responsible for the landscaping element, with Day Architectural the main scheme architect.

Planning officers have recommended approval, noting “the proposal involves a positive improvement to an existing major health care facility within the borough, and therefore accords with national and local planning policies”.

Oldham Council’s planning committee will consider the proposal at an extraordinary planning meeting on 28 July.