Plans for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s new Shotley Bridge Hospital have reached an important milestone, with work to prepare the site for construction began (Monday 7 September).
The project continues to make good progress and remains on track, with construction of the new hospital expected to begin in 2027.
Following the completion of final contractual arrangements with the developer, land remediation work starts this week. This essential work will prepare the site for construction and is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.
Alongside the site preparation work, the Trust will continue to develop its Final Business Case, which is due to be submitted to NHS England in early 2027.
Subject to final approvals, construction of the new hospital is expected to begin in mid-2027.
Matt Graham, Acting Chief Operating Officer at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Starting work on site is an important milestone for the new Shotley Bridge Hospital and a visible sign of the progress being made towards delivering this investment for our communities. “Today’s work marks the beginning of preparing the site for construction and follows years of planning and development. While there are still approvals to be secured, we remain on track and continue to work closely with our partners to move the project forward.
“Our goal is to provide modern, high-quality facilities that support excellent patient care and create the best possible environment for patients, visitors and staff. We’d like to thank the local communities, partners and stakeholders for their continued support as we reach this important stage of the project.”
The new Shotley Bridge Hospital will bring together a range of healthcare services in a purpose-built setting, helping to meet the needs of its local population. The development will create a modern healthcare setting that is better equipped to serve communities across North West Durham for generations to come.
We would like to thank our local communities, partners and stakeholders for their continued support and patience as the project moves through the final stages of planning and approval.
Further updates will be shared as work progresses and key milestones are reached.
