A major step forward in the redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital was celebrated on Wednesday 17th May, where guests were invited to view the “Topping Out” of a new 980 space multi-storey carpark.
The carpark is part of an exciting vision to deliver a modern and digitally-enabled health campus located at the heart of the local community.
Before a tour of the site, the group were treated to an exciting presentation that outlined work-to-date, including the creation of a new community learning facility, the demolition of the Victorian workhouses and the former Limbert Nursing Home, which were once the hospital’s headquarters, the creation of North Manchester House to act as the interim headquarters and work on preparing and levelling the ground. The presentation also included the future vision for the hospital’s redevelopment programme.
“It’s a total transformation,” said Michelle Humphreys, Director of Strategic Projects at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. “We’re well and truly on our way to providing a new, safe and clean carpark for the hospital.”
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The carpark and a new cycling hub are part of the enabling works to support the North Manchester General Hospital redevelopment project. North Manchester General Hospital is one of eight Pathfinder hospitals within the government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP). The new health campus will play a central role in the area; with joined-up health and social care facilities, high-quality new homes, access to better education and training, and more inviting open spaces.
The masterplan, approved by Manchester City Council in March 2021, will also create employment and business opportunities for people in the area and be a catalyst for comprehensive regeneration in North Manchester.
Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I want to give a massive thanks to everyone involved. This will deliver transformative change for residents and NHS services in North Manchester. This will now let us begin to develop the rest of the site by unlocking the land we need, and I look forward in the coming months to see more progress.”
Mark Cubbon, the Group Chief Executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is another critical step for redevelopment on this site and we are hopeful that we can quickly follow up with further news about much needed further development for patients and colleagues.”
Kathy Cowell, Group Chairman of MFT, agreed: “It’s a real message that things are changing. This is the start of our redevelopment and we’ll soon have a fabulous multi-storey carpark for staff.”
The ceremony’s attendees included Kathy Cowell, Mark Cubbon, Bev Craig, Councilor Tom Robinson (Executive Member for Health and Care) and senior representatives from MFT, the ICB and contactors – Morgan Sindall . All guest left in high spirits, after taking a tour of the near-completed carpark which included a trip to the summit of the building where they were able to view the site in its entirety and visualise its potential to deliver the state of the art facilities, which will benefit residents of North Manchester and surrounding areas.
“It’s on days like today, you realise how far we’ve actually come,” Michelle said. “Watch this space!”