Plans for more parking at West Berkshire Community Hospital have been put forward.
West Berkshire Community Hospital is set to expand its parking facilities with a new permanent staff car park proposal.
The plan aims to replace the existing Grasscrete parking area, which currently accommodates 16 cars, with a new car park that will add 36 spaces along with four motorcycle spots.
Currently, the hospital has 125 staff parking spaces and serves around 750 patients each day, employing 228 permanent staff. Additionally, about 80 staff members split their time between this hospital and the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
Patients and visitors use a separate car park at the front, which offers 156 spaces, including 19 for disabled users. The current staff-only car park is accessed through barriers and includes unmarked Grasscrete bays.
Moreover, two significant developments are underway at WBCH: a new MRI scanning facility and an external air source heat pump compound. The MRI facility will begin construction soon, adding 14 new parking spaces, including two for disabled users, intended for mixed staff and patient use.
With these developments, the hospital anticipates a 10% rise in patient numbers and a 5% increase in staff by the end of 2026, serving 825 patients daily and employing 239 staff members.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
