Demolition has begun today (Monday 5 June) on a landmark building at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEH) signalling the start of enabling work for a new state-of-the-art hospital.
The Inspire Centre, which like much of the existing QEH is constructed from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), is coming down to make way for a new multi-storey car park (MSCP) – a key enabling project in plans for a new hospital build for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
The Government announced on 25 May that The QEH – along with four other RAAC-impacted hospitals – has been prioritised and added to its New Hospital Programme.
The centre has been a landmark at the entrance to The QEH site for many years, taking on many different uses. It was originally home to the Trust’s social club – and used for many a wedding reception – as well as housing the Montessori nursery and, most recently, it was used by thousands of staff and residents in the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Work to demolish the building commenced today and is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete. This site will be used for the new MSCP, which is a key ‘enabler’ for the Trust’s new hospital which will be constructed on the site of the existing main car park.
Whilst demolition takes place there is expected to be some noise and dust which local residents living nearby should be aware of. Measures have been put in place by the contractor undertaking the work to keep this to a minimum, however some dust is inevitable and QEH apologises for any nuisance this may cause.
All car parking spaces adjacent to the building and the road next to it will be remain safely open for use while the work is under way.
Paul Brooks, Director of Estates and Facilities at the QEH said: “This demolition is the exciting start of our journey to our much-needed new hospital. The Inspire Centre has played a very important role in QEH life for many years. However, the building is affected by RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) and has a limited life span.
“This demolition will make way for our multi-storey car park for which we received planning permission in April and will allow us to fulfil our business case to build our new hospital on the existing main car park. This work is the start of our journey to ensuring we are investment ready to deliver a new hospital now that we have been added to the Government’s New Hospital Programme.”
The new MSCP will be built in two phases. The first phase will provide 500 parking spaces and the second, to be built alongside a new hospital, will provide a further 879 spaces. Together these will replace the existing car park at the hospital. Work is expected to commence on the new MSCP this year.
Keep up to date with the development of a New QEH at https://newqeh.org.uk/
Appeal: Have you got any memories of the Inspire Centre?
Perhaps you attended a big celebration there, a wedding reception, christening or 21st birthday? Share your memories and any pictures with TeamQEH to help us curate a database of historic objects and pieces as we go through our journey towards a new QEH. This will ensure we keep the connection to this landmark site alive. Send your memories and pictures to communicationsQEH@qehkl.nhs.uk.
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For further information, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216.
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