Staff who don’t “need” to drive could pay more to park at new hospital

Monday 06 September 2021

Staff who “choose” to drive to the new hospital instead of using other sustainable modes of transport could be forced to pay more for parking than those who can prove they “need” to use their car.

The proposal was detailed in a report about the design of the new £800m facility due to be built at Overdale, which included a section on its parking strategy.

According to estimates of car parking demand, 855 spaces would be needed at the Overdale hospital, with 64 of them being accessible. With sustainable transport interventions, the demand could reduce to 691 spaces, 54 of which would be accessible.

In addition, around 50 motorcycle parking spaces will be required, two of which would be for patients and visitors.

Pictured: Some staff could pay higher charges than other if they "choose" to drive to the hospital.

Four pricing strategies have so far been considered, with at least two of them aiming to encourage staff not to drive to the site.

In addition to a free-of-charge policy and a flat parking charge policy, one of the other options being reviewed would involve charging a limited rate to staff who “need” a car for travel whilst charging higher rates to those who “choose” to travel by car.

The final option would see staff who “choose” to travel to the hospital being charged higher prices than in public car parks whilst reduced fees would apply to some staff and visitors. 

Whilst the pricing strategy has not yet been decided, it should be agreed before the planning application for the hospital is submitted. 

Likewise, a decision has not yet been made on how staff car parking will be managed.

One of the potential options would be to issue permits based on need, in a similar manner to NHS Trusts in the UK. Under this scheme, staff would be guaranteed a parking space if they need one for work purposes, have personal commitments such as childcare or are unable to travel to work by another mode of transportation.

Permits could also be issued to services rather than individuals or on a first-come-first-served basis.

Pictured: The car park (in the top left corner) will now be located closer to the main entrance.

Whilst it was previously expected that a two-storey car park built on the southern field would be sufficient to accommodate parking needs, a four-storey one is now being considered.

Building the car park underground, either within the building and/or below the fields, was also once considered but the idea was abandoned due to the nature of ground conditions, cost, programme, clinical functionality and the need for mechanical ventilation.

A multi-storey car park will help “alleviate’ the impact of cars being parked outdoors, the design report noted. It will provide 400 spaces with an additional 200 located on the site east of Westmount Road, and a further 100 spaces located around the main hospital. 

Following comments from the Planning Department the building has been located to the eastern site so that it is far away from the cemetery. The new location will also make it easier for patients and visitors to find the hospital main entrance and shorten the walking distance. 

Pictured: The sides of the building will support climbing plants.

A four-and-a-half storey building is now being proposed, with each storey being three metres floor-to-floor. The building will use the natural topography of the site to accommodate the lower ‘half’ floor, which will align the height of the structure to approximately the same height as the hospital frontage to Westmount Road. 

It will have a green roof with a stainless-steel mesh on the facades to support climbing plants and will be naturally ventilated.

A series of artworks will also be installed between the car park and the main entrance to accompany visitors on their way into the building.