Royal Preston Hospital’s new multi-storey car park is on hold

View of the proposed car park from Sharoe Green Lane

A long-awaited multi-storey car park for Royal Preston Hospital has been put on hold.

First approved in 2014 the car park would have 680 parking spaces.

But Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says its ‘challenging financial position’ means any spending on a new car park is on hold.

In March this year the Trust instructed PWA Planning to apply for amended conditions on its previously approved plans for the car park.

The building would go on the current 210-space car park opposite the St Claire’s entrance to the hospital.

An aerial view of the proposed car park at Royal Preston Hospital

Parking pressures at the hospital regularly see staff and patients parking on nearby roads – with many complaints about drives being blocked.

A spokesman for the Foundation Trust said: “At the moment we have other priorities for capital expenditure. In light of the financial pressures which we face, we are deferring decisions for any significant investment in car parking facilities.

“We also await the outcome of the Our Health Our Care consultation in 2019 which will affect how services will be provided in the future.”

In May this year it was reported by the Lancashire Post the Trust had a £37million black hole in its finances for the 2017-2018 financial year.

Earlier in August a report to the Trust’s board outlined a number of parking changes at Royal Preston Hospital including scrapping free parking for cancer patients and relatives, increasing the cost of staff car parking and bringing in pay-on-exit parking for visitors.