Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
CHANGES have been agreed to the new multi-million pound Dorset County Hospital emergency and critical care project.
Work on the £100million scheme started just over a year ago with the building expected to open in 2027.
A “topping out” ceremony was held in July 2026 after the installation of the rooftop helipad, marking the structure reaching its highest point.
Dorset Council has now approved revisions to the original masterplans – mainly affecting the link corridor joining the new building to the existing emergency department, rooftop ducting and landscaping beside the patient car park.
Sections of the building will now also be slightly lower than originally intended although the new building dwarfs the Dorchester skyline.
Council planning officers said the amendments were relatively minor and followed from further work on below-ground conditions, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, and the technical details needed to connect the development to the existing hospital while maintaining services.
The corridor connection will move 2.9 metres west so that it aligns with the existing emergency department’s gable wall. This will shorten the corridor and create a larger landscaped area between it and the existing department.
The rooftop ducting stack will be moved south, away from the existing building, and lowered by 221mm because it will no longer need to clear the highest part of the existing roof. Galvanised perforated cladding will be added to conceal the ducts and give the structure the appearance of a functional chimney stack.
Planning officers concluded that the corridor and ducting revisions would not harm the layout, appearance or character of the approved scheme overall. They also considered the additional landscaping acceptable for operational and highway safety reasons.
The wider development includes the new emergency and critical care departments, ambulance arrival and assessment facilities, dedicated mental health and paediatric areas, a connecting corridor and a rooftop helipad.
The scheme is being funded through the Government’s New Hospital Programme, while the £2million rooftop helipad is being funded separately by the HELP Appeal charity. Dorset County Hospital Charity is also seeking £2.5million to pay for enhanced facilities for patients and families.
The hospital says its existing emergency department is treating about twice as many patients as it was designed for. The new purpose-built facility will bring emergency and critical care services together, while space released in the existing hospital can later be used for same-day emergency care.
