Friends of Wimborne’s Victoria Hospital secure land for future expansion of the site
Trustees of the Friends of Wimborne Hospital have worked in partnership with Dorset HealthCare to buy an acre of land next to the hospital.
The land previously accommodated Wimborne Town Football Club and comprises a levelled, fenced site between the Victoria Hospital and a nearby new residential housing development.This purchase, fully funded by the Friends, means that it will be possible to expand the hospital in future to help meet changing health needs.
In addition, planning permission to bring the total number of car parking spaces to 105 – including cycle parking, 15 spaces for the disabled and electric vehicle charging bays – has been granted by Dorset Council. This will increase parking options for both staff and patients as and when additional services are provided at the hospital.
Access will be provided through the hospital’s main entrance.
Chris Lawrence, Dorset HealthCare’s Director for Estates and Facilities, said: “We are delighted the Friends have secured this extra land, which gives us the option to expand the range of services available at the Victoria Hospital and create new facilities as required.
Healthcare is constantly evolving, and this additional space will give us more flexibility to meet local needs in the years to come.”
Anne Salter, Chair of the Friends of Victoria Hospital, Wimborne, added:
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure the land for the future of the hospital.
This has only been made possible by the generosity of local people who value the ease of access and the quality of care provided at Wimborne Hospital.”
