Grange Hospital Wins Regional Planning Award

The Grange University Hospital is the winner of Planning Excellence for Health & Wellbeing at the RTPI Cymru Awards for Planning Excellence. The awards recognise and highlight the positive contribution planners make in the communities we serve around the world. 

BDP’s long-term planning strategy adopted a plan-led approach to deliver this state-of-the art hospital which opened its doors in early 2021.  The 471-bed hospital is home to more than 40 specialist services and is located on a sensitive site at Llanfrechfa, with unique ecology, heritage, transport, contamination and drainage constraints, within a beautiful landscape.

The project demanded a bespoke planning strategy along with the highest design and sustainability standards. Following extensive stakeholder and community engagement, the hospital was sited to take advantage of the stunning setting, offering views across the surrounding countryside and access to therapeutic spaces including a restored walled garden to promote healing and wellness.

The hospital has become a catalyst for growth, following its successful delivery we have provided ongoing support to the Health Board including the preparation of a masterplan for the wider site which will be of strategic importance in Torfaen’s Replacement Local Development Plan. 

Tom Rudd, Associate Town Planner at BDP, said: "This is a fantastic recognition of what can be achieved through a long-term approach and a commitment to delivering development of the highest planning, design, environmental and social credentials from the earliest stage.

"The project has been with the BDP planning team for more than15 years from the preparation of a local development framework to selecting the location and setting guiding principles. We gained outline planning permission in 2013 and reserved matters permission in 2015 and saw the horpital open four months ahead of schedule in 2021 to support NHS Wales' response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

"We are now seeing how the hospital can act as a catalyst to galvanise life sciences innovation, and deliver residential development for South Wales. Its a truly fascinating project and we are proud to have played a major part in the realisation of an outstanding healthcare facility."

The Judges said, "It is clear that planning and planners have played a key role in keeping the project on track, keeping stakeholders engaged and informed, and ensuring that health and wellbeing of the community is at the heart of the development."