Public urged to back hospital rebuild plans

Plans for a major redevelopment of Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) will go on show across the city as the NHS trust seeks public support for its planning application.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said new facilities were "urgently needed", including state-of-the-art adult and children's hospitals, and a new maternity centre.

The hospital was one of several earmarked for development under the Conservatives' New Hospital Programme, which is currently on hold.

The trust said staff and information stands would be available in the hospital this week, before moving to venues including Morley, Armley and Wetherby.

Outline planning consent was granted in 2020 but work was unable to continue without official approval from the New Hospital Programme and previous government.

LGI is one of 25 projects currently under review, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Work remains ongoing to decide whether these schemes would be "realistic, deliverable and affordable".

Mike Bacon, director of the trust's Building the Leeds Way programme and New Hospital project, said: "We want to offer our patients, their families and the communities we serve an opportunity to find out more about why a new hospital is urgently needed.

"Our plans for the new hospital are among the most advanced and ready-to-go schemes in the government's New Hospital Programme and we're proud to be among the first trusts to take this positive step forward towards securing full planning consent."

He said the trust had been ready to complete the design and start construction for some time, and with national support could begin building within two years.

The public engagement events will be at community venues including Pudsey Leisure Centre on 16 January, Armley Leisure Centre on 21 January and at Kirkgate Market on 21 February.

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