PLANS to secure the future of Christchurch Hospital have been given broad support.

The multi-million pound plans would see all the services currently provided on the site maintained but housed in new buildings, as well as the addition of a new GP surgery and pharmacy.

To fund the project, the site, which is currently largely empty and underused, would also be redeveloped with an 80-bed nursing home and some 40 assisted living units as well as 81 key worker housing units, including 46 two-bed flats and 35 three-bed homes.

The old red brick hospital fronting Fairmile Road would be demolished as part of the process.

The plans were formulated after extensive consultation over two years, taking into account the strong opposition to losing the medical services on the site.

They were presented at a joint health scrutiny committee on Friday, where councillors from Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset broadly welcomed the scheme, praising the consultation in particular. But concerns were raised about parking, the GP surgery provision for the residents of the new nursing home and the lack of in-patient beds.

Dorset county and Christchurch borough Cllr David Jones highlighted a need for “step down care”, previously provided at the hospital, for patients discharged from acute care and not able to go home.

“I’m absolutely delighted these plans have come forward, but I do regret the fact there aren’t going to be any in-patient beds at Christchurch,” he added.

Patients and community representatives praised the trust for heeding the pleas of the community to save their hospital.

Community representative Diane Smelt said the hospital was “very much loved and well regarded.”

She added: “In general, local residents are pleased with the proposals – at one stage two years ago, residents thought that Christchurch hospital was going to be demolished.”

The committee’s response will be fed back to the local authorities. The hospital trust is now looking to secure planning permission and finalise funding arrangements early next year.