BASILDON Hospital could be expanding to make way for a new entrance and new shops in the hospital.

The hospital has submitted a planning application to Basildon Council for the construction of a new main entrance, extending to front of building, new retail units, alterations to footpaths, roadway and parking areas and provision of new landscaped seating areas.

The site area is 800 square metres.

The design of the new plans are aimed at making the most of existing routes and also emphasising the prominence of a new entrance.

The entrance location has been specifically chosen to give good visibility for people arriving on foot, exiting the car park and arriving by bus, to give a common, logical access point.

The vision for this scheme is to develop a physical retail environment that incorporates significant remodelling to the Basildon hospital main entrance.

The project will create a high-quality environment that is welcoming to patients and visitors and offers on-site benefits to staff and visitors.

The new shops that could be built if Basildon Council grants planning permission would be open from 8am until 9pm from Mondays to Fridays, 8am until 6pm on Saturdays and 8am until 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The majority of the exterior will be made up of blockwork, with large living green walls to the side and front of the building.

The entrance lobby will be made from structural glass with the remainder to be sandstone blockwork to match the current A&E building.

The application also include details about the improvements to the landscaping around the hospital and the new hospital entrance.

Dropped kerbs will be provided and suitable pathways and entrance lighting will be installed to make the area and entrance of the hospice lighter and attractive.

Raised planting beds will be provided with seating as shown below.

The hospital was unable to comment on how long the works will take, when the work will begin if Basildon Council grants planning permission and how much the work will be costing the hospital.

Zoe Asensio-Sanchez, Director of Environment and Infrastructure at Basildon Hospital said: “We are very pleased to have submitted a planning application for a new front entrance scheme for Basildon University Hospital.

“The hospital opened in 1973 and apart from some minor interior alterations, the main entrance has remained the same.

These plans, if approved, will create a much more prominent, welcoming entrance and a logical route into the buildings.”

Kerry Smith, Independent councillor for Nethermayne said he is concerned about the plans.

He added: “It is all well good that the hospital is planning to expand and carry out this building work but it could cause noise and disruption to people living near the hospital.”