Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has today announced its proposed location for a brand-new Frimley Park Hospital, marking an important step towards providing modern, safer hospital care for local people now and for generations to come.

The Trust has also launched its new Engagement Document: Transforming health and care for our communities and is inviting the public to feedback on proposals.  

Much of the current Frimley Park Hospital was built almost 60 years ago, for a much smaller population and at a time when healthcare was delivered very differently. Large parts of the hospital were built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which is now known to present long‑term safety challenges. While staff work hard every day to keep patients, visitors and colleagues safe, the buildings are not designed to support the way care needs to be delivered today or in the future.

The new Frimley Park Hospital is funded by the government’s national New Hospital Programme. It is in Wave One, of the national programme due to the presence of RAAC, with main construction expected to commence between 2028 and 2029.

A new, purpose‑built hospital will allow services to be designed around how patients use care today, with modern wards, better treatment environments and space for new technology. It will also support faster diagnosis, safer care and a better experience for patients, visitors and staff.

Putting patients first

The Trust’s proposed location is part of the land currently occupied by Pine Ridge Golf Club, which is owned by local charity Frimley Fuel Allotments. The total size of the land owned by Frimley Fuel Allotments is approximately 265 acres. The Trust would acquire 55 acres (around one fifth) for a new hospital.

Proposed land purchase.jpg

This follows an extensive site selection process involving eighteen sites within a five-mile radius of the existing Frimley Park site.

Frimley Health has not purchased the land, and no final decisions have been made. An agreement is in place that allows further technical work and engagement to take place as plans progress further. Any decision to purchase the land will need approval from the Department of Health and Social Care through the standard business case approvals process.

This announcement allows the Trust to carry out more detailed work to understand how the site could be developed responsibly, including careful assessment of traffic and transport, environmental impact, and how a new hospital would fit within the surrounding area.

Public engagement and future formal consultation as part of the planning application will be an important part of this process.

What this could mean for local people

Under the Trust’s proposal, a new hospital would provide modern emergency, inpatient and maternity care in a purpose‑built setting, designed to support safe, high‑quality care when it matters most for patients and families.

Most outpatient, diagnostic and community appointments would continue to be provided at the existing Frimley Park site. Thanks to previous investment, many of these facilities have already been upgraded to modern standards and are unaffected by RAAC, so they will continue to serve patients well. As the majority of hospital visits are for these types of appointments, this approach helps keep travel disruption to a minimum and reduces pressure on local roads.

Alongside this, investment will continue at Wexham Park Hospital and Heatherwood Hospital as part of wider plans to improve care across the area.

Taken together, these proposals will make care safer, easier to access and better for the people who rely on it.

Lance McCarthy, Chief Executive of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This is about creating a hospital that local people can rely on - not just today, but for generations to come.

“A new Frimley Park Hospital will mean safer buildings, modern facilities and an environment that helps our staff deliver the very best care.

“The benefits go beyond the hospital itself. As we build, we want local people to share in what we're creating, through apprenticeships, support for local businesses and investment in skills and training, so that communities across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire feel the benefit directly. This is a chance to bring lasting jobs and growth to the area, alongside better healthcare.

“We know how much people care about Frimley Park, and that's why today's announcement is just the beginning. We're looking forward to working with our communities to shape the future of their hospital together.”

Caroline Hutton, Deputy Chief Executive and Senior Responsible Officer for the new hospital said:

“This proposal is more than just building a hospital. It’s an opportunity to create a legacy and transform local healthcare services, and it is fully aligned to the NHS 10-year plan for health, including working with health and care partners to provide more care closer to home and in our communities.

“We are working collaboratively with the national New Hospital Programme, NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board and our partners across the system. We are grateful for all the input and support we have received in reaching this milestone and we look forward to engaging with our communities to help shape local care together.

“We'd also like to thank the Trustees of Frimley Fuel Allotments for their constructive engagement throughout this process. As custodians of the land, they have worked closely and patiently with all parties, under a confidentiality agreement, to help us explore the potential for a new hospital that could bring significant, lasting benefits to local communities.”

The proposals have also drawn support at a national level, reflecting Frimley Park's status as a priority scheme within the government's New Hospital Programme.

Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State for Health, said:

"It’s great to see Frimley Park moving a step closer, with a proposed site now identified for the new hospital. This is an important milestone in delivering a modern, state-of-the-art facility for local people, and the trust will now be working closely with the community as plans take shape.

“We inherited crumbling hospitals that were not fit for purpose, including those built using dangerous RAAC material. Projects like this demonstrate the real change being delivered by the government’s record investment as we rebuild the NHS.

“There is more work ahead, but this important milestone in our New Hospital Programme shows this government is turning the tide on decades of underfunding to build a healthcare system fit for the future."

Charlotte Taylor and Paul Mustow, Joint SRO’s for the New Hospital Programme, said:

“Identifying a proposed location is a significant step forward for the new Frimley Park Hospital as part of the New Hospital Programme.

“We are prioritising the delivery of all seven RAAC hospitals, including Frimley Park Hospital, with modern, purpose-built facilities through our standardised approach.

“We want to thank everyone at the Trust for the hard work in getting to this stage, and we'll continue to work closely with Frimley Health and its partners as the plans develop, so that patients and staff get the safe, modern hospital they deserve.”

Listening to our communities

Frimley Health, in partnership with Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB), is launching a programme of public engagement so that patients, staff, partners and local residents can understand the proposals and share their views.

This includes public meetings, surveys, focus groups and targeted work with people who live near the proposed site. Independent specialists, Opinion Research Services, are supporting this work to ensure it is inclusive and meaningful.

Feedback will help shape future proposals before any final decisions are made.

Sam Burrows, Chief System Development and Engagement Officer for NHS Thames Valley ICB, said:

“Ensuring local people have the opportunity to share their views on the proposals is critical in supporting decision making and in improving the overall project.

“We are committed to understanding what matters to the communities served by the new Frimley Park Hospital. We have designed an engagement approach which offers lots of opportunity for residents to get involved and have their say and we are encouraging everyone to take part.”

Why a new hospital is needed

The current hospital was built in the 1970’s using RAAC, which is now known to present long‑term safety challenges in public buildings.

While extensive safety measures are in place and will remain so, replacing much of the hospital is seen as the only viable long‑term solution. A new hospital would address these risks fully and support modern healthcare for decades to come.

What happens after engagement

Following this engagement exercise, the Trust will continue to develop its plans and carry out further detailed technical assessments.

Any future planning application would include formal public consultation as part of the local planning process. National approvals and detailed business cases would also be required before any building work could begin. A planning application for the new hospital is planned to be submitted in autumn 2027.

In the meantime, Frimley Health will continue to invest in keeping patients, staff and visitors safe across the current Frimley Park Hospital site.