PLANS that will allow the expansion of Lynfield Mount Hospital – including two new inpatient wards – have been approved.

The Bradford District NHS Care Foundation Trust submitted plans for the Heights Lane hospital site earlier this year, and they were approved shortly before Christmas.

The application would see a new car park created on a site next to the mental health hospital, along with a “wellbeing walk.”

An extension to the hospital, including new entrance and two inpatient wards, would be built on part of the existing car park site.

The new car park site is a former reservoir that has more recently been used as a gun club – and a number of buildings associated with that club will be demolished to make way for the parking spaces.

Planning officers said the re-use of this vacant site would “reduce the opportunity for anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: One of the buildings at the former gun club next to Lynfield MountOne of the buildings at the former gun club next to Lynfield Mount (Image: NHS)

Although the application contains the full details of the car park – detail of the hospital extension is only in outline form, and will be followed by a more detailed application in the future.

As well as the car park, a “wellbeing walk” will be created on the site, with the plans showing a walk including wildflower meadows and marshland.

In addition, 200 metres of hedgerow will be planted, along with 100 new trees.

The new car park will include extra cycle parking facilities and 28 electric vehicle charging points.

Referring to the new car park, planning officers said: “The wellbeing walk will be of benefit to patients and staff at the hospital as well as serving to soften the appearance of what is otherwise a functional and utilitarian form of development.

“The current site is of little visual merit consisting of a redundant stone building, the former gun club building and a variety of former lightweight structures in varying states of disrepair, it could therefore be argued that the proposal will result in environmental and amenity benefits.

“It will certainly help to reduce the opportunity for anti-social behaviour, vandalism and tipping that currently exist on the site.”

When asked about the plans, a spokesman for the Trust said: “We will continue to provide 160 free parking spaces but with improved surface and layout for visitors and staff, including accessible parking, drop-off points and more electric car charging points.

“The car park will be accessed through the main entrance as it is now but located in a new area at the rear of the hospital, with a woodland walk for those using the facilities.

“It will be a phased development to ensure minimal disruption on-site.”