Welsh Govt commits £33m for Rhyl hospital

The Royal Alexandra Hospital will open a 27,900 sq ft extension in 2027 – more than 13 years since plans to redevelop the facility were first floated.

The Welsh Government signed off the business case for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board‘s latest hospital building on Sunday, committing £33m towards its construction.

Plans for the three-storey expansion were approved by Denbighshire County Council in December. Drawn up by CRI8 Studio, the proposals include a Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit, four-suite dental unit, radiology unit, 14-bed reablement ward, and staff hub.

A new hospital has been proposed for the site since 2013, when then-health minister Mark Drakford agreed £750,000 to enable the development of a strategic outline case for such a building.

The proposals that received £33m funding yesterday represented a scaled back version of a scheme that had received planning permission in 2020, but have since been deemed too expensive. The initial draft for the hospital was four storeys and a series of refurbishments to existing buildints.

These new plans will require the demolition of the hospital campus’s mortuary building and its estates wing off Grosvenor Road. The project will also be built on top of an existing car park, with 47 spaces set to be retained.

BCUHB estimates that the building will be able to serve 20,000 patients a year.

It would sit on a one-acre site at the southern end of the hospital campus site in Rhyl, adjacent to Russell Road, which would serve as a secondary entrance to the building. The primary entrance for both cars and pedestrians would be from Alexandra Road, with an additional pedestrian access point from Grosvenor Road.

Tetra Tech is leading the planning for the project, with MMC healthcare specialist MTX Contractors handling the build. The project team also includes Curtins, MDA Wirral, Bowland Tree Consultancy, Survey Operations, and DSSR.

Regarding the £33m funding announcement, Denbighshire County Council Leader Cllr Jason McLellan said: “This significant investment in the Royal Alexandra Hospital marks a major step forward for health and social care in Denbighshire.

“This modern health and wellbeing hub includes reablement beds and a minor injuries unit, which will improve the healthcare provision for the people of Rhyl and surrounding areas.”

He continued: “I would like to thank Welsh Government and our partners for their collaboration in bringing the project to this stage. This is an important development for local residents and shows what can be achieved when partners work together to deliver sustainable health and social care for our communities.”

This would be the first phase of a proposed £60m investment in Royal Alexandra Hospital. The business case for the second phase is due to be submitted to Welsh Government soon.