The £20m redevelopment of Brentwood Community Hospital has taken a step closer, with health chiefs drawing up a shortlist of three companies bidding to carry out the work.
The existing hospital in Crescent Drive will be demolished and replaced by a new building with state-of-the-art facilities.
But campaigners opposed to the move say this is unnecessary and Brentwood will lose an important part of its heritage.
The Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford Primary Care Trust (PCT) sent out a questionnaire to companies and received a surprisingly high response, with 12 bidders expressing an interest in building the new hospital.
Project director Russell Harrison said: "The PCT is extremely pleased to have received such an excellent response for the development of this much-needed local facility. This is a key stage in the process and to have received such a great response was excellent news for the Trust."
The three companies shortlisted are Kajima Europe Ltd, Ryhurst and Grosvenor House Group Plc.
At the beginning of next year they will each make a formal presentation to the PCT on their final design plans for the hospital, and in March the preferred bidder will be chosen.
Work is expected to start in late summer or early autumn, and the new hospital should open in 2008.
Brentwood Borough Council gave the scheme outline planning permission last year despite opposition from some nearby residents who are concerned about parking and traffic issues.
Published Thursday August 12, 2004
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