Final Call for Public Input on New Frimley Park Hospital Site

A Changing Healthcare Landscape for Surrey Residents

For decades, Frimley Park Hospital on Portsmouth Road has been a cornerstone of local healthcare, caring for families across Surrey Heath and neighbouring areas like Woking and Guildford. However, with unsafe reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) present in two-thirds of the current structure, NHS leaders have declared that a complete rebuild is urgent. The trust’s preferred vision involves acquiring 55 acres at Pine Ridge Golf Club and adjacent Frimley Fuel Allotments land. This proposal would construct a state-of-the-art acute hospital featuring upgraded emergency care, maternity units, and specialist children’s wards. Beyond the physical build, the wider NHS strategy emphasizes increased care delivered directly within patients' homes. Just as local homeowners rely on skilled bathroom fitters to adapt domestic spaces for safer mobility during recovery, the trust plans to expand virtual appointments and localized community support, reserving hospital beds for critical treatments while redirecting planned elective procedures to Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot.

Community Groups Raise Traffic, Safety, and Environmental Alarms

While NHS leaders promise safer facilities, local community groups are voicing urgent concerns about the chosen location. Pine Ridge Golf Club is far more than a sporting venue; it serves as a cherished social hub for weddings, events, and daily woodland walks. Representatives from the Heatherside Ward Residents Association (HWRA) have warned that replacing these green spaces threatens biodiversity and leisure access. Traffic and pedestrian safety remain major friction points. Local residents, who regularly invest in property upgrades such as a home bathroom refurbishment to improve their living spaces, feel equally protective of their surrounding neighbourhood infrastructure. HWRA campaigners highlight the proximity of a nearby secondary school, fearing thousands of additional vehicular trips will endanger young pedestrians. Surrey Heath MP Al Pinkerton has echoed these anxieties, challenging the trust over the lack of a formal public consultation and questioning the overall integrity of the engagement process.

How to Have Your Say Before the October Deadline

With the 17-week public engagement period concluding on Monday 12 October, this represents the final opportunity for residents to submit their feedback. Throughout the summer, the trust hosted over 20 pop-up sessions and public forums to gauge local opinion. Although alternative sites—including Frimley Business Park, Cody Tech Park, Blackbushe Airport, and redeveloping the existing Portsmouth Road site—were evaluated, health officials maintain that the Frimley Fuel Allotments parcel scored highest. However, the land purchase is not yet finalized, and extensive technical studies regarding highway capacity and environmental mitigation are required before formal planning applications are submitted. Local residents are encouraged to visit the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust engagement portal to complete the online survey before the October 12 deadline. As decision-makers review the findings, the community will be watching closely to see if local voices alter the final plans.

Source: Frimley Park: Final chance to comment on new hospital plans