The pace of clinical innovation and changing patterns of healthcare provision places particular demand on the long term strategic planning
of hospital complexes.
Masterplanning therefore becomes a fundamental task and amongst the issues it must be informed by include:
- Take account of the surroundings in terms of potential developments, links to transport, commercial activities and regeneration opportunities.
- Consider how to make best use of the land.
- Make strategic decisions about infrastructure (roads, engineering services underground, access) that minimise restrictions for future development.
- At the same time, make best use of the site topography, sun paths, boundaries, views and landscape to enhance the quality of the patient and staff experience – this will affect how the site can be developed over a long time span.
- Think about how the site could be developed in another phase or when these buildings have reached the end of their useful life.
- Try to avoid sterilising parts of the site now that could be used in future.