Alderley Park block primed for private hospital conversion
A 71,000 sq ft four-storey building within the Mereside life sciences campus is being teed up for a change of use to healthcare.
In plans now validated by Cheshire East Council, architect BondBryan:Fairhursts – Bond Bryan’s science-focused arm – outlines a proposal that “responds to both clinical need and the wider objectives of Alderley Park”.
The plans have been submitted on behalf of Alderley Park Ltd, of which Bruntwood SciTech is described as the leading parent company, in the planning statement provided by CV Planning.
Also on the professional team are ecology advisor Tyrer, transport planner Astute, and Shields Arboricultural.
The proposal is to repurpose Block 33, which adjoins the main entrance to the Mereside campus at the northern end of the wider complex, to accommodate a private elective hospital.
This will deliver outpatient consultations, diagnostics, procedures, same-day recovery facilities, and some provision for overnight patient stays where clinically required.
As such, the facility would operate in a manner comparable to a medical clinic or elective care (planned, non-emergency treatment), resulting in lower levels of activity, servicing, and infrastructure demand than a full acute hospital.
As set out in Bond Bryan Fairhurst’s design & access statement, the development does not require significant new land take or extensive external development.
The location of Block 33, close to the main Alderley Park entrance from Congleton Road, provides good access while avoiding unnecessary movement through sensitive research and commercial areas of the 1m sq ft science and tech-led campus.
CV Planning added that there is thought to be potential that a healthcare facility on site could complement the site’s existing life science and research and development focus, fulfilling a role at the later stages of the ‘bench to bedside’ system and opening up opportunities for collaboration with on-site occupiers whose focus is improving population health outcomes, drug discovery and health tech.
A hospital could also be a boon in securing complementary occupiers and service providers, the firm said.
Bruntwood SciTech, the joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G and GMPF, has this year committed £3m to further improvement of amenities for business occupiers at Alderley Park.
The plans for Block 33 can be viewed on Cheshire East’s planning portal, using the reference 26/1891/FUL.
