PLANS have been lodged to demolish the old medical records building at a Bradford hospital to make way for a new day theatre.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has applied for the Council to be allowed to demolish the stone-built block which is now disused at St Luke’s Hospital on Little Horton Lane.

They seek approval to knock down the building, which appears in historical maps from 1890-91.

Documents accompanying the application describe how “changes to clinical service delivery requirements of the Trust include the development of a new day case theatre facility”.

It has been identified that the optimum location on the hospital site is that of the former records building.

It adds that the existing building is “neither adaptable nor compatible” with what is required for a contemporary theatre facility.

The documents also outline how due to the timeframe for the new facility – which will involve a separate planning application - a fast-track pre-fabricated modular construction is set to be used.

The document states: “This separate application for the demolition of the existing building only is being submitted prior to a full planning application for the theatre facility in order to expedite the required fast-track construction programme.”

Craven Herald: St Luke's Hospital in Bradford and the old medical records building (highlighted in red)St Luke's Hospital in Bradford and the old medical records building (highlighted in red)

“The purpose of this application for the demolition of the disused, former records building is to enable the preparation for the development of a new day case theatres facility in that location - application of which is to be submitted subsequent to this one.”

The report goes on to add that a dedicated day case theatre complex facility is in response to the number elective procedures post Covid-19.

It adds: “Across all surgical specialties day cases make up approximately 80-85% of the total elective waiting list.”

If approved, the existing building would be demolished down to foundation level to allow infrastructure works to begin before any constructed of the proposed new day case theatre facility.

A temporary fence would be installed until the proposed facility is in operation.

A spokesperson for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have submitted a planning application for the demolition of the old Medical Records building at St Luke’s Hospital, which is no longer used by the Trust.

“Our aspiration is to re-purpose that area of the St Luke’s Hospital site once it has become vacant. This aspiration would form part of the Trust’s strategy to improve our estate for patients across our sites. Any such enhancement would be subject to a future planning application.”

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