UHD buys remainder of Wessex Fields from BCP Council

University Hospitals Dorset has bought the remainder of Wessex Fields from BCP Council. This land is adjoining the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site. The sale comes at an important time as Royal Bournemouth becomes the major emergency hospital and Poole becomes the UK’s largest planned care hospital.

The immediate temporary use will be additional parking, benefiting patients, visitors, and staff. Feasibility work for geo-thermal energy will also be undertaken in 2026, to provide a reliable, local heating source.

Homes for key workers will also be planned. As well as helping to attract and retain staff, this will help ease traffic congestion, as staff will be able to walk to work. Other uses, allied to healthcare, will also be explored in the site masterplan that will be developed next year. These include centres for education and research.

Siobhan Harrington, Chief Executive of UHD said: “As we prepare for the next stages of delivering better emergency and planned care for our local population, Wessex Fields will help us in delivering even greater benefits. We look forward to working with partners to develop this exciting opportunity.”

Cllr Mike Cox, BCP Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “The sale of Wessex Fields represents a great opportunity for residents, bringing investment into the area that will regenerate a key site, create new jobs and build world-class medical research and development facilities, alongside hospital keyworker housing.

“Working with partners to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is one of our ambitions, so we’re pleased to be able to sell this land to University Hospitals Dorset.

“This sale also generates a substantial capital receipt for the council; bringing huge benefits to the area and getting best value for our residents.”