MAJOR plans to develop Christchurch Hospital have been delayed.

A £12million project outlined for the hospital has been “slowed” down due to Covid and rising costs.

The proposal was first shared with the public in January 2020 and outlined the arrival of a new and improved Macmillan Caring Locally hospice, additional NHS services and a set of affordable homes for over-55s.

But almost three years on, a planning application for the development on the site, which is mostly managed by the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust, is yet to be submitted.

Richard Renaut, the trust's strategy and transformation officer, said: “University Hospitals Dorset’s ambition still remains to rebuild the Macmillan palliative care hospice, with the support of Macmillan Caring Locally charity, on our Christchurch Hospital site.

“Due to Covid, and the recent change in economic situation, these plans have had to be slowed down."

The project is a joint enterprise from three local organisations – Macmillan Caring Locally, University Hospitals Dorset and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group.

Read more: First glimpses of new £12 million project to create health village at Christchurch Hospital

The plans largely centre around a new Macmillan Caring Locally Hospice being built at the hospital, in replacement of the existing MacMillan Unit.

Speaking in 2020, Neal Williams, trust secretary for Macmillan Caring Locally, a Christchurch-based charity which is not part of national organisation Macmillan Cancer Support, said there was a “need” for a new building that will “serve the wider and changing needs of our community.”

When the public first previewed the plans in 2020, £5million had already been set aside for the project, with the hospice planning to raise the remaining cash through fundraising activities, trust funds and its capital appeal Brick by Brick.

The work was expected to begin by June or July that year, with a target date for completion set for Christmas 2021.

But with the project delayed, a new agreed completion date is yet to be agreed.

A spokesperson for UHD said this would be “dependent upon the fundraising.”

Mr Renaut added: “The next stage of the project will be the planning application, for which we have had positive feedback from our initial meetings with planners and the public.

“Over the next few months we look forward to publishing more information as these exciting plans are developed."

While a planning application for the project has not yet been submitted, an application has been approved for a temporary car park at Christchurch Hospital which precedes any development.