Private field eyed for new St Saviour health village

With funding and planning permission now in place for the new £710m hospital at Overdale, attention is now turning to long-awaited plans for a health village in St Saviour –with the Health Minister eyeing up a privately-owned field for the project.

Deputy Tom Binet said this week more resources will now be put towards advancing plans for a new outpatients facility at Kensington Place, as well as the St Saviour campus, which is expected to integrate current mental health inpatient facilities with physical healthcare and rehabilitative care.

The Minister also confirmed that further consultation with residents and parishioners would take place later this year.

“Early development stages”

Asked for a progress update on the “village” concept by St Saviour Deputy Philip Ozouf, Deputy Binet responded: “Field S579 has been identified as a potential site for the St Saviour Health Village project.

“However, currently, the field currently remains in private ownership and so no final decisions have been made regarding its use, as the St Saviour Health Village site is still in its early development stages.”

Pictured: A concept image for the Health Village in St Saviour.

He went on to explain that details of what would be included in the Health Village were included in a feasibility study back in summer 2023 – though this was criticised by Scrutineers for was lacking detail, alongside other non-Overdale aspects of the NHFP.

Deputy Binet stressed that there had been “a necessary focus” on progressing plans for the acute hospital at Overdale to date.

But he added that “efforts will soon turn towards advancing plans for the St Saviour Health Village and the ambulatory Facility at Kensington Place”.

Deputy Binet continued: “As part of this, further consultation with residents and parishioners will be planned in spring and summer 2025, ensuring that local perspectives are considered.”

“Key milestones now achieved”

He explained that the government had prioritised securing funding for the initial stage of the programme and bringing forward the designs for the acute hospital at Overdale.

“The NHFP Phase 1 funding also includes a meaningful start of the ambulatory facility at Kensington Place as well as the Health Village in St Saviour,” Deputy Binet added.

Pictured: A planning application for the new acute hospital at Overdale was approved earlier this year.

“With key milestones now achieved in terms of funding of the whole NHFP Phase 1, as well as the approval of the Planning Committee for the proposals for the acute hospital, increased resource will be allocated to progressing the St Saviour Health Village and the ambulatory hospital at Kensington Place.

“At St Saviour, concept designs will be further developed over the summer, informed by previous feedback, before being shared with residents for further input.”