Construction of new hospital targeted to start in 2026

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust says preparatory works are underway now at the site of the existing hospital in Steeton, where its multi-million pound replacement will be built.

During the construction stage, which will take up to four years, services will be moved into the new hospital in phases to reduce disruption.

It was announced in May last year that Airedale, built more than 50 years ago, had secured a place on the Government’s New Hospital Programme.

The building was largely constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, which was found to have a lifespan of 30 years, and is crumbling.

Now the NHS trust has outlined a projected timetable for the next six-or-so years.

"Hopefully people have been joining us in celebrating the fact we are getting a new modern hospital fit for the future," said a spokesperson.

"People might also be wondering when the plans will be ready and the diggers will start to appear, but before this can happen there's a lot of other work that needs to be done and some important issues to consider.

"Planning work started as soon as we were accepted onto the New Hospital Programme.

"The first job was to consider where the new hospital should be built. We’ve not found any other suitable sites, so we will be building on our current site.

"To complete the hospital by the deadline of 2030, it will need to be built in one go rather than in stages. This limits the options for where it can be constructed on the site, as we can’t use many of the current buildings for the new hospital. We've been carrying out a range of surveys which will provide information on the ground conditions and make-up of the land, as well as any impact on wildlife and traffic. We’ve also been asking patients, staff and local communities about the things that are important to them – and we will keep doing this.

"The site is difficult to build on because it is steep and sloping. Also, it's in a residential area and next to a conservation area. We need to think about all these factors.

"Getting a new hospital is a great opportunity to improve care and services for our patients. However, we also need to make sure people continue to get all the care and services they need while it is being planned and built. Our priority is to avoid disruption to services and patients, so we will need to work around the existing buildings and plan very carefully."

The trust says considerable work will be required to ready the site ahead of the construction phase – including the provision of a new electricity substation and extra cabling to supply additional power that will be needed; the creation of entrances and storage areas for contractors' vehicles and equipment, and ensuring there is enough onsite parking.

Also, designs for the new hospital will need to be drawn up. It's anticipated that developing detailed plans will take up to a year – and public feedback will be central to the process.

The spokesperson says: "The design will use a national model called Hospital 2.0, which provides a standardised format for wards and theatres and other areas used in hospitals. But the plans will also be based on the health needs of people in the Airedale area and what services they need, now and in the future. Views and feedback from staff, patients and local communities will be a very important part of the design process. There will also be a focus on being environmentally-friendly and the use of latest digital technology.

"Once the final plans for the new hospital are complete, we will submit them for planning permission.

"We will be working closely with Bradford Council through each of the phases to ensure we meet all regulations and avoid any delays.

"Once all this work has been finished, we can finally begin to build the hospital. This is likely to take up to four years to complete.

"Services will be moved into the new hospital in phases to reduce disruption, so it will be some time before the hospital is fully up and running.

"After this, the final stage will be to demolish the old buildings and finish any remaining work on the grounds. Then it will be time to celebrate our new state-of-the-art hospital!"