THE partnership behind plans to build a new hospital for the town is considering purchasing nearby land at Basingstoke hospital to extend.

As previously reported, Basingstoke was chosen in 2020 as one of more than 40 locations across the country for a new hospital using a £3.7billion government funding package, with plans for it to be built by 2030.

The Hampshire Together partnership, which is running the project, shortlisted two locations last year – land off Junction 7 of the M3 or at the site of the existing Basingstoke hospital in Aldermaston Road.

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A public consultation is scheduled to take place before the end of this year after which a location will be chosen.

The site of Basingstoke hospital was considered as one of 14 locations in Hampshire in the early stages of the project, despite not meeting the criteria of being 40 to 50 hectares, which is needed to accommodate a new hospital along with other facilities such as an ambulance station and car parking.

Hampshire Together said the site was still considered because it can be extended.

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Information published by Hampshire Together states: “The site is not within the 40-50 hectare criteria. It might, however, be extended by purchasing nearby land.

“As the site is in an urban setting it can be developed at a higher density, by building higher than would be the case in a more rural location, the amount of development per hectare would be greater.”

It said other sites smaller than 40-50 hectares were considered but none had the same development potential.

If the Aldermaston Road site was chosen for a new hospital, Hampshire Together said this would present “challenges”, in particular building a new hospital while services continue to be provided at the existing hospital.

It said: “Existing hospital services could continue whilst building a new hospital on the existing site by temporarily relocating onsite car parking to enable the current car parks to be the site of the new construction.

“Some existing services could be moved temporarily to allow the building work to take place.”

Hampshire Together said no decisions on location have been made or finalised and said this will not be decided until after a formal public consultation this year.

However, meeting papers published two years ago revealed that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is part of the partnership, has a ‘preferred way forward’.

Other sites considered and rejected in the early stages of the project were Basingstoke Leisure Park, land north of Basingstoke Crematorium, St John Moore Barracks in Winchester, and Micheldever Station.

A spokesperson for the Modernising our Hospitals and Health Services programme at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are working closely with colleagues in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) and wider Department of Health and Social Care and have taken every opportunity to demonstrate to them the importance of a new hospital for Hampshire.

"We remain on course and ready to deliver as part of phase two (2025 to 2030) of the national programme and have undertaken extensive clinical, operational and engagement work to ensure that the option choices we ultimately consult on are the very best they can be to deliver safe, high quality and sustainable services in excellent facilities for the people of north and mid Hampshire for the long-term.

“We are taking full advantage of learnings from the first wave of new hospitals and as soon as we are given the green light from NHP and HM Treasury, we will take our proposals out for public consultation at the earliest opportunity.

"We are fully prepared to move forward with our new hospital programme plans while also ensuring our current trust services and settings continue to evolve alongside and to support our system partners and communities.”