BUILDING works has continued throughout lockdown in Ascot in order to modernise and rebuild a new £98m Heatherwood Hospital.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has given an update as to how construction works are going and the progress made at the site.
The build is considered as essential works and has been allowed to continue through lockdown, although many processes throughout the site have had to adapt and change.
The new NHS hospital will provide six top-of-the-range operating theatres, a range of outpatient services and up-to-date diagnostics in a superb new building set into woodland.
Ascot has been home to a hospital at Heatherwood for almost a century, but with ageing facilities and a growing need for investment its long-term future was in doubt as recently as five years ago.
Work on the small roundabout on the Kings Ride road has been completed quicker than expected due to the reduction in traffic during lockdown.
At the end of June, the crane was also removed from the site.
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What is next?
- Winter 2020 – Building made watertight
- Winter 2020 – Alteration work begins on main roundabout
- Autumn/winter 2020 – Power switched on in the building
- Mid-2021 – Site handed over to Frimley Health from Kier
- Mid-2021 to winter 2021 – Commissioning of the new build and decommissioning of the old site
- Winter 2021/22 – Transfer of activity and equipment from old site to new building
- 2022 – Old site handed over to Taylor Wimpey for housing development
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