Construction work has begun on a new car park providing 300 extra spaces at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, part of a large-scale improvement of parking at the RUH planned for this year.
The hospital plans to increase parking capacity by 30 per cent and improving the existing car parks onsite.
Parking charges are not set to rise as a result of these improvements.
Howard Jones, director of estates and facilities at the RUH, said: “This new car park is great news for our patients and families. It will make visiting the hospital a much better experience for everyone, as well as easing some of the parking pressures on site and on residential roads nearby.”
The new car park is by the main entrance to the north of the hospital’s front entrance and will be for patient and visitor use.
Yesterday contractors from local company MJ Church arrived to begin the groundwork.
The old pathology laboratory site has been levelled and the area will now be laid out and landscaped. It is expected to be completed by the autumn.
Steve Blower, Managing Director of MJ Church said: “We’re really proud to be working in partnership on this project with the Trust.
“Many of our staff live locally and use the RUH and it’s great for us as a local company to be helping to develop the hospital for the future.”
The new car park is part of a bigger £100m development plan for the 52-acre hospital site.
B&NES Council planners approved the new car parking plan in November 2015 for a total increase of 349 extra patient and visitor spaces across the site.
