Thom Lafferty, chief executive of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT), said: “This is fantastic news for Harlow and its continued regeneration.
“This development will bring new jobs, representing a massive investment in our local economy in Harlow, and plays an important part in our collective efforts for community regeneration. The expected population growth and the obvious synergies between our work and that of the new campus, reinforces and accelerates the need for a new hospital, on a new site, delivered in the quickest and most cost-effective way.
“Part of that will be looking at how we can deliver services closer to patients and communities, joining up with GPs and other healthcare partners, and making sure the future new Princess Alexandra Hospital, unlike our current site, is built to meet the needs of our local population in the 21st century. We are pleased to have reopened negotiations with the landowner of our preferred future site at junction 7a of the M11.”
Chris Vince, MP for Harlow, said: “This news is a tremendous step forward for Harlow, with new jobs in science and technology, and ends years of speculation. Now, we need a first-class new hospital to take advantage of the synergies, one that meets the needs of one of the fastest-growing populations in the UK. I will continue to lobby for this.”