A proposed £1.8 billion NHS hospital rebuild on protected Greenbelt land has ignited a fierce political and community battle, with an MP warning it risks becoming 'another HS2' due to spiralling costs and environmental damage.
Preferred Site Sparks Outrage
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has selected 55 acres of the 265-acre Greenbelt and Countryside land, currently occupied by the historic Pine Ridge Golf Club in Frimley, Camberley, as the preferred location for a new state-of-the-art facility. The site, part of the ancient Frimley Commons, has been legally protected since 1800 as the Frimley Fuel Allotment, dedicated to the local community's social and welfare interests.
Health bosses argue the relocation from the current Portsmouth Road site is essential due to crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) planks, which pose long-term structural safety risks. The current 60-year-old hospital requires round-the-clock safety management, and rebuilding is deemed the only viable long-term solution. Backed by the Government's national New Hospital Programme, main construction is slated to begin between 2028 and 2029.
MP Slams 'Completely Inappropriate' Location
Surrey Heath Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton has strongly criticised the decision. 'I think this is entirely the wrong site, I think it's completely inappropriate,' he told the Express. He highlighted accessibility concerns, warning that the new location sits down single-track roads serving five schools, including Ravenscote Junior, Tomlinscote Secondary, and St Augustine's Primary, causing mile-long traffic jams that will be 'made 10 times worse.'
Dr Pinkerton questioned how ambulances and other emergency services would navigate the congestion at critical times. He also revealed a staggering budgetary oversight: when he directly asked the chief executive of Frimley Park how much had been earmarked for vital road upgrades, the answer was 'none.'
'Not a penny of the £1.8 billion has been set aside,' Dr Pinkerton said, branding the site selection process fundamentally flawed. He warned that necessary road widening, motorway junction upgrades, and extra railway bridge lanes could cost 'tens, potentially hundreds of millions of pounds.' He argued that if infrastructure costs had been factored in, previously discounted locations might have been reconsidered.
Community and Political Divide
The proposed development has sparked fury among residents, with local Facebook pages inundated with hundreds of comments. One resident said: 'I fully support the need for a new hospital, but I strongly disagree with this proposed location. Placing a major hospital development opposite a school, close to other schools and residential areas, while removing a well-used green space, raises very serious concerns.'
Surrey County Councillor Paul Deach demanded transparency: 'Frimley Health must release the full scoring matrices for the alternative sites they evaluated before we sacrifice 55 acres of protected woodland.'
However, neighbouring Bracknell Labour MP Peter Swallow called the announcement 'really exciting news' and a 'major step forward,' urging locals to engage with the public consultation. He branded calls for a pause 'reckless' and insisted leaders must remain 'solution-oriented.'
MP Warns of 'Another HS2'
Dr Pinkerton cautioned that patients in Bracknell and North East Hampshire would face 'significantly diminished' access without transport upgrades. He urged the Government to halt the plans, warning: 'This cannot be allowed to become another HS2, where the bills keep going up and the environmental and social damage is compounded.'
He also criticised the charity owning the land for a 'wrong-minded decision to pursue the sale' and argued that rebuilding sequentially on the existing site by expanding onto a 'very lightly used MoD cadet training centre next door' would be 'wholly logical,' as the land is already Government-owned and has unmatched transport links, including direct M3 access and closeness to Frimley railway station.
Dr Pinkerton noted that because the NHS plans to split diagnostic services between the two sites, it won't be able to fully sell off the old land to recoup costs, making the move financially counterproductive.
Trust Defends Plans
Defending the proposals, Lance McCarthy, Chief Executive of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, promised a hospital that local people can rely on for generations: 'A new Frimley Park Hospital will mean safer buildings, modern facilities and an environment that helps our staff deliver the very best care.' He added: 'The benefits go beyond the hospital itself. We want local people to share in what we're creating, through apprenticeships, support for local businesses and investment in skills and training. This is a chance to bring lasting jobs and growth to the area.'
The Express contacted Frimley Fuel Allotment for comment.
