Plans submitted for next phase of work for helipad and extra parking at Ipswich Hospital
Former Bridge School next to Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich. Picture: GREGG BROWN - Credit: Gregg Brown
Development of the former Bridge Primary School next to Ipswich Hospital have taken a step further, as demolition work has been completed.
Proposed plans for the former Bridge School site, which will become a helipad and temporary car park for Ipswich Hospital. Picture: KLH ARCHITECTS - Credit: Archant
Ipswich Hospital acquired the former primary school site last year, after the primary school joined with the secondary campus at a new purpose-built school in Sprites Lane.
Outline planning permission to create an additional temporary car park and a helipad for the air ambulance was granted, with demolition work having taken place over the last few months.
Now, as the deconstruction phase has been completed, full planning applications to create the 250-space car park and helipad have been submitted to Ipswich Borough Council.
The former Bridge School in Heath Road, Ipswich, before demolition - Credit: Gregg Brown
A spokeswoman from Ipswich Hospital said: “We are working together with everyone to use the site in the best possible way.
“It is temporary car parking but it is 250 additional spaces, and we hope it will make coming to hospital for those people who drive in a much easier experience.”
If approved, the parking area currently reserved for staff near the diabetes centre will move to the Bridge School site, meaning patients who use the busy diabetes centre will have access to much closer parking.
Ipswich Hospital is developing a temporary car park and helipad. Picture: GREGG BROWN - Credit: Staff
The remaining space will be used as a helipad for air ambulances to land at.
Currently, air ambulances land at the back of the school field at Copleston High School, creating a journey time of between 15 and 20 minutes between patients landing and arriving on the hospital wards. Night landings are not currently possible.
A statement from developers Lawson Planning Partnership said: “The proposed helipad location and design would allow for patient transfer times to be significantly reduced, which could prove to be critical in certain circumstances.
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“The provision of lighting would also allow for patients to be delivered by air ambulance during darkness hours.
“The new facility would, therefore, help improve patient outcomes and help develop the hospital’s trauma services.”
The helipad will mean journey times for patients between helicopter and ward will be cut to around two minutes.
The plans are currently in the eight-week consultation period, and will likely go before planners for a decision in July.
