Waltham Forest Council has given the green light for the redevelopment of Whips Cross Hospital.

Barts NHS Trust submitted two outline planning applications to the Council: one application for the hospital development and first multi-storey car park, and another application for the residential development and change of use for the heritage buildings.

The planning applications will now be subject to Mayor of London approval and completion of the legal agreements.

The new hospital will deliver the same core services as today but through new models of care provided in a state-of-the-art 'smart' hospital - vastly improving the experience for patients and staff. This includes:

• over a third more clinical space than the current hospital


• a near doubling of CT and MRI scanners

• more than 70 per cent single rooms in the new hospital compared to 17 per cent today

• 10,000 more day case surgeries available in the new hospital, with a near 50 per cent increase of day case spaces in the new hospital.

The new hospital will lead the way as a local hospital of the future delivering enhanced NHS Healthcare closer to the community for better patient care and attracting and retaining key healthcare staff. The hospital is designed to connect with nature and landscape to support the healing process with exemplar care of the frail and elderly, and the flexible hospital design will be able to adapt to future healthcare demands.

The wider Whipps Cross site will be transformed providing up to 1,500 new homes (including 50 per cent affordable homes), a community health building, new green and public spaces, better transport and access, and community facilities such as retail and leisure.

The hospital and the wider site will be greener, with a hospital able to deliver net zero carbon emissions and a site that encourages more cycling, walking and public transport.

Hospital construction is expected to start in Spring 2023 with the new hospital expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The outline planning applications will see further details submitted in the coming years when the Reserved Matters applications are submitted.