West Suffolk Hospital buys multi-million pound Bury St Edmunds manor and grounds as its weighs up options for new site
West Suffolk Hospital has bought a nearby multi-million pound manor in Bury St Edmunds as it weighs up options for a new site.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has purchased Hardwick Manor and its surrounding grounds, which is among four sites currently being considered as potential future locations for a new hospital.
The eight-bedroom manor sits within 70 acres next to the Hardwick Lane hospital and had been marketed for a guide price of £3.5million.
It is understood that if Hardwick Manor was chosen as the preferred site, the manor would be retained and if the site was not chosen, the trust would likely sell it on.
Stephen Dunn, chief executive of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said it was 'prudent to purchase the site' when it became available to keep their options 'fully open'.
The existing hospital buildings were built in 1974 and have long exceeded their intended 30-year life span.
The trust was recently confirmed as one of 40 across the country to receive funding for new build projects from the Government’s Health Infrastructure Programme.
Mr Dunn, said: “It is well known that our hospital was among thousands of buildings constructed in the 1970s using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) planks.
“As a result, we have had to carry out an extensive programme of inspections and running repairs at our current site to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
“We have been open and transparent about the structural challenges our current site poses, and our desire to move to a new, purpose-built location as soon as possible.
“Hardwick Manor is one of four sites currently undergoing detailed analysis and surveys to determine their suitability as potential locations for our new hospital.
“That work is ongoing and is due to complete in November, but in advance of its completion, a unique opportunity arose to acquire Hardwick Manor.
“I must stress that this does not make it any more or less likely to be chosen as our preferred location for the new hospital.
"However, it was prudent to purchase the site when it became available in order to keep all our options fully open.”
He added: “Whichever location we settle upon for our new build will be subject to the usual rigorous planning and public consultation processes.
“I want to reassure our local community that we are committed to engaging with as many of them as possible in our plans for the new hospital.
“We want to ensure what we provide is a perfect fit for the current and future health needs of the people of West Suffolk.”
The early 20th century Hardwick Manor is on part of the site of the Hardwick House estate which was broken up in the 1920s.
Read more: All the latest news from Bury St Edmunds
Read more: All the latest news from Suffolk
