St Mary’s Hospital redevelopment delay criticised by Cllr Hug

The Leader of Westminster City Council, Councillor Adam Hug, has expressed deep disappointment following the latest announcement from the Department of Health, revealing that the much-needed redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital will now be delayed until at least 2035.

Cllr Hug acknowledged the challenging financial situation facing the Government, noting the previous administration’s failure to secure the funding required for the hospital’s future development. However, he emphasised that St Mary’s represents a unique case.

“The current buildings date back to the Victorian era, and the hospital’s commercial potential is significant,” said Cllr Hug. “The redevelopment could not only improve vital healthcare services but also generate substantial economic growth, reducing the expected £2bn cost of the project.”

He also pointed to the broader economic opportunities linked to the Paddington Life Sciences project, which could help alleviate pressure on public finances. “St Mary’s has the potential to unlock much wider economic benefits,” he added.

Cllr Hug called on the Government to approve the necessary funding to allow Imperial College Healthcare to continue developing its business case, and to commit to fast-tracking the project. “It’s essential that the Government enables the redevelopment to progress more swiftly, based on a comprehensive and innovative plan for St Mary’s and the surrounding area.”

He stressed the importance of the hospital, which serves as one of London’s busiest major trauma centres, and its vital work in life sciences and caring for over a million patients each year.

On 20th January, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, made a statement in the House of Commons outlining the outcome of the Government’s review of the New Hospital Programme. St Mary’s Hospital, along with Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals, has now been placed in the third wave of the programme, with building work set to begin between 2035 and 2039.

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Image: N Chadwick

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