A hospital in a Bucks town has outlined plans for a new “energy centre” – but at the expense of staff parking.
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has submitted to Bucks Council a planning application for Wycombe Hospital, on Queen Alexandra Road, in High Wycombe.
Plans detail the ‘installation of a new energy centre, with four dual fuel boilers in a purpose-built building, and a containerised combined heat and power (CHP) unit in an adjacent compound’.
PICTURED: The new energy centre.
PICTURED: The new energy centre.
READ MORE: Major new motorway service station on M25 to go before public inquiry
There is also mention of a ‘heat pump that utilises waste heat to maximise carbon savings and efficiency of the CHP unit’ at the hospital.
A new 17-metre exhaust stack, and fencing is also proposed.
It is understood 17 staff parking spaces will be lost permanently. A further 54 staff parking spaces will be temporarily lost during the construction phase, a report states.
The land that will house the new energy centre is also thought to be contaminated, according to council documents.
PICTURED: The staff parking area.
READ MORE: Dog owners and park-goers told to avoid water at The Rye after ‘toxic’ algae fears
“Loss of staff parking” and “the height of the flue” were raised as potential issues, council documents indicate.
“Existing service plants are deemed inefficient and require high levels of maintenance,” documents state.
It adds: “The proposed development will replace the existing inefficient energy supply at Wycombe Hospital, including the existing boiler room which is over 60 years old.
“The proposed low-carbon infrastructure will provide an efficient and reliable energy source to the hospital, whilst reducing emissions and associated environmental impact.
“Furthermore, waste heat which is not utilised in conventional electricity generation will be used to provide thermal energy at Wycombe Hospital.”
The applicant is now awaiting a decision from Bucks Council.
We’ve launched a new Facebook group for local news junkies, politics fans and everyone who wants to keep up to date with the latest issues affecting High Wycombe. Please join the conversation over at Buckinghamshire Politics
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel