New hospital for Crawley and Horsham a step nearer

THE POSSIBILITY of a new hospital for the Crawley and Horsham area has taken a step forward with the release of a report by BioCity Ltd.

The company, which develops bio science parks around the world, initiated the study earlier in the year with the support of Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council.

The study considers and examines the clinical and financial case for a privately funded hospital, delivering NHS services together with a substantial bio science park and high quality housing development.

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Francis Maude, Conservative MP for Horsham, said: “I’ve been concerned that local people may have thought we’d abandoned our campaign but we’ve been working hard with BioCity throughout 2010.

“The three councils are pushing this latest development locally and Henry Smith MP and I have met with the Health Secretary and other Department of Health specialists in Westminster to keep them updated and to seek their support.

“The campaigning continues at every level. We really won’t stop until Horsham and Crawley NHS patients have a decent and accessible acute hospital that they can be proud of.”

Henry Smith, Conservative MP for Crawley, said: “As the previous leader of West Sussex County Council, I was pleased to be part of initiating this study in to making the case for a new Crawley and Horsham area hospital, now as Crawley MP I am delighted developments have moved on to the next stage.

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“Access to hospital services locally is an issue that residents of all backgrounds deserve to have seriously addressed, it has to be a priority.”

A number of possible locations for the development have been identified, which include north of Horsham, Pease Pottage Hill (Crawley), and the Glaxo SmithKline site, Crawley.

Subject to securing funds, BioCity Ltd will undertake further detailed work to examine the viability of the BioCity concept in these locations.

This will include a comprehensive evaluation of financial, clinical and planning issues in order to move the concept forward.

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The three councils will consider the study’s conclusions in detail and as part of this we will seek the views of residents, general practitioners and business groups.

Bob Lanzer, leader of Crawley Borough Council, said: “Albeit very early days, this is an exciting opportunity with the potential to deliver a much needed hospital with full A & E facilities at the heart of a first class science park.

“It would be a huge prize for West Sussex and the Gatwick Diamond.”

Robert Nye, leader of Horsham District Council, said: “The initial study begins to explore what could be provided.

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“We need to see more detail and I hope that it will prove the case to encourage investors to come forward.”

In order to test the study’s conclusions and move the concept forward, BioCity is considering making an application to the new £1.4bn regional development fund in January to help.

The bid will seek the additional funds that are needed for a detailed feasibility study.

Louise Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “This idea is exactly the type of major economic initiative that the new ‘Coast to Capital’ Local Enterprise Partnership would wish to see.

“If BioCity or any other investor can secure privately funded and much needed NHS healthcare facilities and attract high quality jobs into the area, I am sure they will receive widespread support.”