Views Common land to support delivery of the new Hinchingbrooke Hospital

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is planning to temporarily lease a section of land at Views Common from Huntingdon Freemen’s Trust to support construction of the new Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

The land will be used by Kier, the contractor appointed to build the new hospital, to provide:

• Construction compound facilities, including site offices and welfare facilities
• Storage of materials and equipment
• Temporary storage associated with groundworks activities
• Construction logistics and operational support
• Temporary contractor parking facilities

Why is the land needed?

Building a new hospital is a complex undertaking that requires significant space for construction operations, materials storage and logistics. Using land adjacent to the hospital site will help ensure the project can be delivered safely and efficiently while existing healthcare services continue to operate.

Will public access be maintained?

Yes.

The permissive path through Views Common will remain open throughout the lease period. The route is used by residents, school pupils, hospital visitors and people accessing Hinchingbrooke Park, and maintaining access has been a key consideration in developing the plans.

The Trust is committed to working closely with local schools, residents and stakeholders and will provide advance notice of any temporary changes should these ever be required for safety reasons.

Is the land being permanently transferred?

No.

Ownership of Views Common will remain with Huntingdon Freemen’s Trust at all times. The arrangement is a temporary lease linked solely to the construction of the new hospital.

Once construction is complete, the contractor will vacate the site, the land will be restored to grazing land, and it will be returned to Huntingdon Freemen’s Trust in accordance with the lease agreement.

Supporting a once-in-a-generation healthcare investment

The new Hinchingbrooke Hospital will provide modern healthcare facilities designed to meet the needs of current and future generations. The development will deliver improved facilities for patients, better working environments for staff and greater flexibility to meet future healthcare needs.

The temporary use of land at Views Common will play an important role in helping to deliver this major investment while balancing the needs of the construction programme with those of the local community.

Keeping residents informed

The Trust is committed to ongoing engagement throughout the project and will continue to provide updates through:

• Community engagement events
• Public meetings
• The Trust website
• Social media channels
• Stakeholder newsletters
• New Hospital Programme communications

Residents, schools and stakeholders will have opportunities to ask questions, share feedback and receive updates as plans progress.

 

For more information, please see the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust website.

 

Further details, including FAQs, will be published as the project develops.