More than 300 people turned up to an open day to view plans for a new main entrance and multi-storey car park at Derriford Hospital.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust plans to invest millions of pounds over the next ten years – in a bid to make sure its buildings and facilities support the delivery of 21st century healthcare. This planned programme of development is called the Vanguard Estates Programme.

The first stage of the programme to improve our patient environment, the Vanguard Gateway Scheme, includes proposals to create a new main entrance to Derriford Hospital which will be directly adjacent to a transport interchange and a new multi-storey car park, being developed by Wharfside Regeneration.

Members of the local community – hospital Trust patients, Plymouth City councillors, councillors from Devon and Cornwall, hospital staff and members of the public were invited to come along on Thursday 24 July. They were invited to view the models and images, talk to the planning teams and give their views on the multi-storey car park, the new main entrance and children’s hospital and Wharfside Regeneration’s development plans.

More than 300 people turned up, the majority of whom were patients and members of the public. Many of the visitors fed back their comments and support to planning staff and experts informally. Everyone attending was invited to give their views on a written feedback sheet.

Of the visitors who gave their formal feedback, the vast majority strongly supported the plans. 89% strongly supported the plans for a multi-storey car park reporting that they were either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. 95% of those who fed back on the plans for a new main entrance thought that the plans they saw were either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.

Comments on the new multi-storey car park being developed by Wharfside Regeneration included:

• It clears the site and makes better use of the space.
• I am impressed with the way the planners are incorporating green spaces and retail facilities within easy reach of the hospital.
• Long overdue and the proposed development of a high street and all the facilities that would have is something that I as a resident and staff have wanted for 20 years!

A number of visitors did question the size of the car park at 600 spaces; all expressed the view that there should be more car parking spaces at Derriford Hospital. Some visitors raised issues about parking for hospital staff.

Comments on the proposed new main entrance included:

• Much nicer viewpoint coming into front of building – very impressive.
• Very good, well planned. Appears to fulfil the needs of the hospital.
• This design brings a 1980s exterior into the 21st century. Flooding the area with light and providing much needed extra facilities.
• I love the openness, easy access, looks like there will be an easy flow of people. Also good facilities for disabled parking within easy access of the main entrance.

Some visitors questioned the length of the walkway in the proposed new entrance whilst others gave strong views about the commercial/retail area – particularly related to which food chains should or shouldn’t be included!

All comments will now be fed back into the planning process and a patient involvement group will be created to work with planners on the new main entrance.

Lesley Darke, Director of Planning, Estates and Facilities said: “The Open Day was a real success. It was excellent to meet with so many of our patients, members of the public and local councillors and talk to them about the plans.

“It was heartening to receive so much support and it was fascinating to hear some innovative ideas and suggestions. We really valued the constructive feedback we received and we are now in the process of making more minor changes as a result. For example, we discussed a couple of issues with some taxi drivers who came along and from these discussions we plan to alter our drop-off areas very slightly to make it easier for patients.”

“We would like to thank everyone who came along. We hope the day was as informative and useful for them as it was for us.”

A spokesman for Wharfside Regeneration said: “The Directors of Wharfside Regeneration, together with our architects S333, enjoyed a very successful open day together with our partners Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. 

“The open day gave both organisations the first public opportunity to demonstrate the new hospital entrance with the multi-storey car park, which will lead to a comprehensive regeneration of the hospital coupled with a new heart for Derriford.  The future development will offer support health care facilities to complement the hospital along with both commercial and residential property.

“The display explained to visitors how the proposals will take shape over the next few years.   The significance of the proposed developments in the wider context of Derriford and the northern part of the city are now apparent, and the reaction was that the proposals were bold and the correct solution to Derriford’s problems, but also long overdue. 

“The Directors of Wharfside Regeneration look forward to the coming years, working closely with the Directors, the Board and the staff of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver the plans and proposals as put on display last week.”

For further details please visit www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk or www.wharfsideregeneration.com