22.03.13
RNOH wins approval for major redevelopment
Planning approval has been granted for a major redevelopment of Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) in Stanmore. Harrow Council has approved the project, which will modernise the site to meet the needs of patients and safeguard 1,300 jobs of people currently working on site.
Over 60% of the RNOH’s buildings are over 60 years old and many wards were originally for temporary war-time use.
The redevelopment will provide: new wards, imaging and ancillary clinical services, a multistory car park, accommodation for parents and children, a private patients unit, a staff accommodation block, residential units and greater public access to green belt land.
Rob Hurd, RNOH chief executive, said: “This is a great day for the trust and all our patients and staff. These plans have been talked about for more than thirty years so we are delighted to see them finally get the green light. We are extremely proud of our reputation as a world-class provider of specialist orthopaedic and musculo-skeletal care and wanted to do everything we could to preserve this.
“The decision will mean our vision for providing exemplary healthcare for our patients and our ability to remain as a national and international centre of excellence can now be realised. I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point.”
Harrow Council portfolio holder for planning and regeneration, Cllr Keith Ferry, said: “This hospital is one of the jewels in the crown of our borough and this redevelopment is the result of years of collaboration between RNOH staff and the Harrow planning service. This will allow it to continue the fantastic work that it does to provide treatment and care for patients in a modern environment.”
Building work is expected to begin later this year.
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