Frimley Park Hospital Relocation: Your Voice Matters Until October
What's Happening to Frimley Park Hospital?
If you live or work across Surrey Heath, Woking, or surrounding areas, you'll want to know what's coming. Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is planning a significant rebuild of Frimley Park Hospital—one of the region's crucial healthcare facilities serving hundreds of thousands of patients annually. The proposed new site sits on part of Pine Ridge Golf Club, a move driven by serious structural concerns. Around two-thirds of the hospital's current buildings contain RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), a material that's been flagged as problematic by health authorities nationwide. Rather than attempting costly repairs piecemeal, the NHS trust has opted for a comprehensive relocation strategy. This decision doesn't come lightly. The trust recognises this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape healthcare delivery for our entire community. The extended public engagement period running until October 12 gives residents, businesses, and stakeholders genuine time to understand proposals, ask difficult questions, and ensure their local knowledge shapes final plans.
Why Your Community's Input Is Essential
Local residents from Dorking to East Horsley have already raised legitimate concerns that deserve serious consideration. Environmental campaigners have highlighted woodland destruction risks, whilst traffic specialists worry about existing congestion on surrounding roads during peak hours. But perhaps most importantly, people who actually live here know things no report can capture. Ward, the trust's director of communications and engagement, has already heard from parents about children using parts of the proposed site as an informal cycle route to school—critical information that wouldn't appear in technical assessments. This insight matters enormously when planning healthcare infrastructure that affects daily community life. Businesses considering bathroom refurbishment or other expansion projects need clarity about future local developments. The extended consultation period acknowledges this reality. It's not bureaucratic delay; it's recognition that sustainable planning requires genuine community partnership. Whether you're concerned about access, traffic, wildlife, or how this shapes our area's future, this engagement period is your formal opportunity to lodge feedback. The trust is genuinely listening.
How to Make Your Voice Heard Now
The deadline is October 12, so action needed. Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is holding additional public sessions where you can speak directly with planners and ask questions. These aren't formal consultations—they're genuine engagement opportunities designed to understand community perspectives before final decisions crystallise. You can also complete the trust's questionnaire, which remains open online. For those who prefer written feedback, that option exists too. If you're a business owner—whether you operate bathroom fitters services, hospitality venues, or other enterprises—the engagement process welcomes commercial perspectives on traffic, infrastructure, and economic impacts. Local MP Al Pinkerton previously challenged the decision to forgo formal public consultation; this extended engagement period represents the trust's response to such concerns. Scrutiny committee chairman Trefor Hogg has endorsed this approach, recognising the opportunity for meaningful dialogue. Check the Frimley Health website for session dates and locations, or contact them directly. Your postcode—whether Guildford, Woking, or surrounding areas—doesn't determine your eligibility to comment. If this hospital serves you or your business, your voice counts. Don't miss this window.
Source: Public given more time to have say on new Frimley Park Hospital site
