July start for £33m Rhyl hospital
It has been more than a decade since plans to redevelop the Royal Alexandra Hospital were put forward – and now its first phase is lined up to complete next summer.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board received sign off for its application for a construction site compound last week at Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee meeting.
The compound location approval means that work on building the 27,900 sq ft extension can begin within a matter of weeks.
“This hospital is not just for Rhyl and Prestatyn, its here for the whole of Denbighshire,” Cllr Barry Mellor told his fellow county councillors.
“I’m really, really excited when I hear that it should start in July, which is only a few weeks away,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the first spade going in there.”
The three-storey expansion will be built using modern methods of construction by healthcare property specialist MTX Contractors. When it is finished, the extension wil house the hospital’s Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit, a radiology unit, a four-suite dental unit, a staff hub, and a 14-bed reablement ward.
CRI8 Studio drew up the plans, which secured £33m from the Welsh Government early this year. They focus on a one-acre site on the southern end of the hospital’s campus, next to Russell Road. The site is currently occupied by a car park and a mortuary building, the latter of which will be demolished.
In addition to MTX Contractors and CRI8 Studios, the project team includes Tetra Tech, Curtins, MDA Wirral, Bowland Tree Consultancy, Survey Operations, and DSSR.
The extension marks the first phase of a proposed £60m investment in the hospital, with Welsh Government set to receive the business case for the second phase in due course.
The redevelopment of Royal Alexandra Hospital has been floated about since 2013. At that time, health minister Mark Drakford had put forward £750,000 to develop a strategic outline case for the building. In 2020, plans were approved to build a four-storey extension but these were dropped over cost concerns.
To view the latest plans, use reference 45/2025/0410 on Denbighshire County Council’s planning portal. The specific application approved last week is 45/2026/0112/AC.
Huge project for a new start up practice…
By Jack Mary Ann
Believe it when I see it
By Kitty
It is astonishing that it has take9n 13years for this project costing just £64 million to approach getting started. Even then only just one of the 2 buildings will get built. This explains why Labour party spent 27 years in office in Wales and nothing to show for it in North Wales. It failed to address development of the regions. Didnt build Road and essential bridges. No vital infrastructures such as tram from Deeside across North Wales route. There is no guarantees that the current government will do any better.
By Eddy Oko-Jaja
Will i be able to use it .I live in Trelogan
By Mclachlan
It will be a great asset to Rhyl and Prestatyn as Bodelwyddan is unreachable for most people when they need A&E
By Sandra Bromley
its about time North Wales got some funding.
By Janet Davies
Has any parking place been allocated? Building over the present inadequate space seems unhelpful.
By Anonymous
About time
Glan Clwyd is over run.
By Steve CROWTHER
Where is the car park
By Christine Street
I’d be interested how this was procured by BCUHB?
By Anonymous
Still not big enough only 14 beds
By Anonymous
Where are we suppose to PARK
By Lynn Harper