A RESERVED matters application to build Cumberland Infirmary’s Urgent Treatment Centre has been submitted. 

The full application follows the granting of outline permission in September and has been submitted to Cumberland Council by Summit Town Planning on behalf of the North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust.

The proposed development, at Carlisle's Newtown Road hospital, aims to alleviate lengthy waiting times and the high demand that the existing accident and emergency (A&E) department contends with.

In order to provide the "best use" of the existing layout of the hospital, the urgent treatment centre is proposed to be located adjacent to A&E.

The development will be situated to the east of the Grade II-listed Doctor’s Residence, which was the first health facility on the site.

This will result in the development of the existing car park.

The car parking that is to be lost will be replaced within the hospital grounds and is subject to a separate planning application.

The parking application seeks permission for the formation of a new car park and associated infrastructure to the north-west corner of the site, to the west of the helicopter landing pad.

It will provide 180 parking spaces.

The parking application has been recommended for approval and will be heard by next week during Cumberland Council's planning committee. 

Speaking after plans were first lodged, a North Cumbria Integrated Care spokesperson said: "Many of our patients experience long waits in our A&E and we recognise that the space constraints make life difficult for both patients and staff.

"The planning application is the first step in realising our ambition to create more space; however we now have to submit a business case to NHS England so no funding has been confirmed.

"We will provide an update once we have submitted our business case and received a decision.”