The Countess of Chester Hospital posted on social media briefly about their plans for the old Women & Children's building, located opposite the main hospital building, which has operating theatres, A&E, inpatient wards, and more core services. Ellesmere Port's nearest major hospital says that “the usual footpath past the old building is now closed, as we're preparing the area for upcoming deconstruction works on the old site”. The bridge connecting the main hospital and the now derelict women & children's building will also be demolished.
In August 2022, the new Women & Children's Hospital was formally proposed and submitted for planning, and was later approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council in February 2023. The building of the new hospital started in June 2023 and was later finished on 24th July 2025. The facility opened its doors to the first patients on 8th September 2025, which then left the old building no longer in use.
The 1970s structure contained unsafe RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), meaning services had to move to the £110 million, three-storey, modern facility. A national NHS safety programme meant the unsafe RAAC had to be removed.
In 2022, there was a proposal to create a permanent car park on that spot after demolition. These plans later changed due to “shifting priorities and financial pressures”. The hospital trust is currently exploring how to use the land and how they can meet the needs of the local population. Instead of building more parking, the hospital is focused on “sustainable travel”, encouraging the use of park and ride services and making better use of existing parking spaces. As well as this, the hospital is planning to restore green space. A temporary car park, built on the grassed area near the 1829 building to support construction, is being returned to grass now that the new facility is open.
Confusion on social media arose around the idea of a multi-storey car park, which was then cancelled. Ongoing discussions among locals have continued, as they were expecting more parking spaces on site.
Picture: Peter Byrne/PA - PA Wire