Government Approval Clears Way for New Multi-Storey Car Park at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn has received government approval to move forward with the construction of a new multi-storey car park, marking a major step in the wider redevelopment of the hospital site.

The full business case for the project has been approved by the Joint Investment Committee of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. This approval allows the hospital trust to proceed with delivery of the car park, which is described as an important enabling project for the future New QEH hospital.

The new multi-storey car park will provide 1,335 spaces across six parking levels, including disabled bays and parent-and-child spaces. It will replace the existing main car park, which is planned to become the construction site for the new hospital building. Additional parking elsewhere on the hospital site will be retained.

Preparatory works have already started, including the relocation of the hospital’s bus stop closer to the site entrance. The new stop will support improved access for public transport users while preparing the site for the main car park works. Site preparation is expected to begin in early June, with construction of the car park building scheduled to start at the end of July. Completion is expected in December 2027.

The car park is being developed on the former Inspire Centre site, which was demolished in 2023. Once complete, the facility will help free up the current main car park area so that work can progress on the new hospital.

The design includes larger parking bays suitable for modern vehicles, two-lane exits, Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology, smart signage to help drivers locate available spaces, and pay-on-exit arrangements for patients and visitors. Planned features also include energy-efficient LED lighting, motion sensors, natural ventilation, 24-hour security, and improved wayfinding using colour-coded levels and clear internal signage.

Electric vehicle charging will not be installed inside the multi-storey car park following local authority fire safety advice. Instead, the Trust plans to provide additional EV charging spaces elsewhere across the hospital site, with the option to expand provision in the future. Twenty EV charging points are already available at the Emerson unit car park for staff and patients.

The project is part of the broader New QEH programme. The hospital, which contains Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, has been prioritised for replacement through the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The new car park is intended to maintain parking capacity for patients, visitors, and staff while enabling construction of the new hospital.

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