Kajima’s plans, submitted in conjunction with construction partner Mansell, for a new Community Hospital in Bicester last night received unanimous approval at the planning committee meeting of Cherwell District Council.

The project will see a replacement state-of-the-art twelve bed hospital being constructed on land behind the current hospital in Kings End. Once construction is complete, the surplus land, site of the existing hospital, will be developed to accommodate a sensitive, low density residential scheme.

The new two storey hospital will contain facilities including 12 inpatient beds, diagnostics, such as x-ray and ultrasound, a first aid unit, an out of hour’s service, therapies and an outpatients department. The design has developed to provide a functional building meeting the current and future needs of patients and staff in a cost-effective solution that is easy to build, maintain, adapt and manage.

Mansell are due to start preliminary work on site in January 2013 with the hospital due to open in early 2014.