The centre piece of the masterplan is the project is a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital currently under construction, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. It will centralise services within Sandwell and West Birmingham in a single facility providing A&E and acute medical services including over 600 beds and 14 operating theatres, maternity and paediatric services, public open space and performance space in the elevated winter garden.
With the development of the inclusive masterplan on the 17 acre site we encouraged and created permeability into and through the site and along the existing canal arm while at the same time the design takes advantage of the 7m cross fall of the site to reduce the overall bulk of the building. Careful positioning of the development to the north of the plot allowed us to open up the south of the site for public green space, which is a valuable asset for both the hospital and the local community. Further south additional development plots were identified and located so that these could be developed without affecting the main hospital activities.
Through the design development we engaged with both statutory stakeholders and the public via regular meetings with internal users and external stakeholder groups. A formal design review process with MADE (including a full a full design review panel) allowed for the whole development strategy to be thoroughly reviewed alongside regular pre-planning meetings with the local planning authority.
