Timetable confirmed for hospital rebuild

Work to build a new-look Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow will begin within the next 10 years, the government has confirmed.

Construction of the Essex hospital will get under way between 2032 and 2034.

The project has been estimated to cost between £1.5bn to £2bn and will replace the current hospital, which was originally opened in 1963.

Chris Vince, Labour MP for Harlow, said: "I am pleased we finally have concrete plans for Harlow because this is something that Harlow desperately needs."

It is not the first time a timeframe has been given for the new hospital.

In 2019, the Conservative government said the Harlow hospital would benefit from part of £2.7bn of nationwide funding, with work to begin "straight away".

In the same year, Lance McCarthy, the then chief executive of Princess Alexandra, said the new hospital could open by 2024.

By 2023, this had slipped to 2030.

The current plan for a newbuild is part of the government's New Hospital Programme, which will see 40 new hospitals delivered across the country.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the initial pledge had been "built on the shaky foundation of false hope".

But shadow health secretary Edward Argar accused Streeting of putting progress made under the previous government "at risk" by "kicking the can down the road".

Mr Vince said it was right that the health secretary was "being realistic about timeframe".

"I said before the election that I would fight for a new hospital for Harlow if the funding was there, and I am pleased we are making a realistic commitment," he added.

"People and healthcare professionals in Harlow want reassurance and knowing the timescale for the new hospital is really important.

"Of course we want that hospital as soon as possible, but I am pleased the secretary of state is ensuring Harlow gets the new hospital that it absolutely needs and deserves."

The location of the site has yet to be revealed.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.