UK: Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester is set to be redeveloped in to a “health village”, including a rebuilt hospital, affordable housing for nurses and an aparthotel for patients.
The plans, which will take between 10 and 15 years to complete, will also aim to attract world-class scientific research and training.
The plan would see the existing hospital rebuilt into a 5G-enabled ‘smart hospital’ in stages and surrounded by research and development institutions and start-ups, in order to create a health-focused business park with a particular focus on cardiac and respiratory illnesses.
In plans drawn up by Manchester Foundation Trust and developer Bruntwood, with the backing of the council, the campus would aim to include housing and temporary accommodation for people with health problems who don’t necessarily need to be in hospital, according to a report going before councillors on Wednesday.
“This may include a mix of longer-term accommodation as well as shorter-term aparthotel style units, where patients can benefit from proximity to hospital care and easier access to home care by specialist clinicians and nursing staff,” it says.
Plans for a new tram extension to the area, known as the Western Loop, have been drawn up by Transport for Greater Manchester. Housing for key workers at the hospital would also be incorporated too, with the project designed to be zero-carbon.
The masterplan will go out to consultation if it is approved by the Manchester council’s executive today.</p
