A rebuild of a Leeds hospital could include buildings “shaped like the contours of the Yorkshire Dales”, planners have revealed.

Plans were revealed this week for the site of Leeds General Infirmary which, if all goes to plan, will be home to two brand new hospitals, as well as the restoration of the facility’s historical listed buildings.

Designer BDP has been appointed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) to lead the architectural design of its Hospitals of the Future programme which it claims will help “transform healthcare facilities for patients and staff in Leeds and the wider region”.

Although designs are still in an early stage, BDP has proposed a hospital structure that it claims is “shaped like the contours of the Yorkshire fells and dales, with a large island garden and play deck at its centre”.

A spokesperson added: “Outdoor space and play areas were some of the facilities that children and young patients suggested in a design competition, held last year, which have inspired the architects with their latest concept.”

As part of the plans, the trust said a central island garden, as well as ward-level terraced gardens “will provide a connection to the outside world for patients”.

Plans for the redevelopment were first unveiled in 2019, when the scheme was valued at around £450m, with a Leeds City Council report claiming the new facilities would provide 92,000 square metres of “focused healthcare space”.

The development of a new adults’ hospital, along with a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital, is set to be one of the most significant healthcare projects in the UK.

Chief executive of LTHT Julian Hartley said: “The building of our two new hospitals is the most important development in Leeds city centre for a generation. And, in terms of hospital-based healthcare, it’s the most important development in the city centre since 1868, when Leeds General Infirmary was first built.

“It’s wonderful to see that BDP has listened to the feedback we’ve given them and have come up with these concept designs that are thoroughly patient focussed, and which place patient and staff wellbeing at the heart of our new hospitals. These concept designs give extensive access to daylight and greenery, and not only do they maximise wellness, but they also bring something of the dales into the city centre.

“These inspirational designs will see not only the creation of world class medical and research facilities, but also the creation of a landmark public building, of real architectural quality, of which Leeds can truly be proud.”

The buildings would include a brand-new Leeds Children’s Hospital (LCH), which will bring all clinical services for children and young people under one roof. It will also increase the space for specialised services including cancer treatment, neurology, liver, kidney and bone marrow transplantation and congenital heart surgery.

A new maternity centre will include a midwifery-led unit, with all inpatient maternity services and neonatal services on one site.

In the adult hospital, a 24-bed extension to the critical care unit would provide extra capacity.

The unveiling of the new design concepts was attended by eight-year-old Mia Casey from Leeds, who had heart surgery at Leeds Children’s Hospital in 2015. Mia’s mother, Vicky, healthcare architect and head of business development at BDP’s Leeds studio, is one of those who worked on the new designs.

Part of the old Leeds General Infirmary site could also be redeveloped.

Dame Linda Pollard, chairwoman of LTHT, said: “We’re very proud of the progress we have made with the plans for our new hospitals, and we’re excited by the concepts put forward for what will be the most important development in Leeds city centre for many years.

“Digital technology and world-leading innovative techniques will be central to the services provided in the new hospitals whilst the old hospital estate will be redeveloped as part of the City’s Innovation District, bringing about direct and wider economic benefits of up to £11.2bn in net present value terms and more than 3,000 jobs. This redevelopment of the old LGI site will also help us to preserve some beautiful buildings with significant history to their former glory.”

The trust said it is planning to start construction in 2023, which would align with the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which aims to help build 40 hospitals by 2030, backed by an initial £3.7bn.