A new temporary building in the car park of Watford General will house some of the hospital’s services as redevelopment work begins, according to new plans.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is applying for planning permission from Watford Borough Council to construct a new three-storey modular building which will house the pathology and mortuary departments for the next five years.

It comes as the NHS Trust continues its work on the redevelopment of the hospital, which is set to begin in 2023, subject to funding.

It will see the pathology and mortuary department move from the south east of the site to the western side, near to the Shrodells Unit.

Watford Observer: The temporary building The temporary building

The NHS trust and architects Fatkin have said the new building will provide immediate benefits to the hospital, as well as allowing the department to be functional during any hospital rebuild.

The developers have said the current facility is “not fit for purpose”, and the new modular building will offer more open space than currently available.

The new location will also allow couriers to enter the building directly, rather than having to enter the main hospital to enter the pathology unit.

The building will be clad with light blue and grey panels with most windows to the north, facing away from the Shrodells Unit.

Watford Observer: A CGI of how the new Watford Hospital could look A CGI of how the new Watford Hospital could look

As part of the application, there will also be a new blue light route around the building and minor changes from the existing route.

The new site would also see a loss of 32 parking spaces in the hospital, however this will be mitigated by the opening of the new multi-storey car park, which is expected early next year.

The plans were submitted in late August and will be voted on by councillors at a meeting of the borough council’s Development Management Committee on Tuesday, November 2.

Council officers have recommended that planning permission is granted, subject to conditions.

The officers have said that the “simple” design is acceptable and justified as a temporary building.

The council granted outline planning permission for a new hospital on the current site in July.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is still completing their Outline Business Case for the Watford redevelopment, which will determine how much funding is allocated for the new facilities.

This is expected to be completed in early 2022, with construction hoped to get underway in 2023.

The scale of the rebuild will be reliant on funding awarded for the project, but the trust have said Watford General Hospital will remain fully operational during the construction work.

If councillors agree to grant planning permission for the new modular building, officers have recommended a condition which would see permission for the new temporary buildings expire on November 3, 2026.