Preparation work on new hospital site begins
Project GenesisPreparatory work for a new hospital is under way amid hopes building can start as early as next year.
Initial groundwork was carried out on the site of Shotley Bridge Hospital in County Durham last summer to preserve existing planning permission.
Developer Project Genesis said it was now getting the Derwent View site ready for remediation and construction of infrastructure.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said work to progress the necessary business case and approvals for the scheme continued.
"While there are a number of stages still to be completed, we are continuing to work closely with partners to move the project forward," a spokesperson said.
"We will provide further updates as plans develop."
The current site preparations are expected to be completed by mid-April, followed by remediation and infrastructure work, which would take about a year, the developer said.
The area was identified as the most suitable for the new hospital in 2018.
The 16-bed in-patient rehabilitation ward and urgent treatment centre will replace the current outdated facility.
Project GenesisThe project, which has been plagued by delays and inflated costs, finally got the go ahead last year following a review.
Project Genesis director Mike Clark said: "For years, there's been understandable concern in Consett about the future of hospital provision and whether the town would lose its chance of a modern healthcare facility.
"These remediation works are another important step forward, making the site ready, putting the right infrastructure in place and ensuring we're in the strongest possible position to move ahead, when the anticipated agreement is finalised and the trust's business case approvals are secured."
The hospital had been due to open in 2025 but is expected to be completed by 2030.