New Brighton ambulance base given go-ahead

Plans for a new Brighton ambulance base have been given the go-ahead.

Brighton and Hove city councillors have today (Wednesday May 14) given unanimous approval for the proposal on Woollard’s Field in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

The former school playing field, which is near the county’s new public records office The Keep, was deemed surplus to requirements in 1990.

It will now be turned into a response centre for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust, with about 300 people working out of the site.

Bosses said it would mean it could replace the “outdated” depot at Brighton General Hospital in Elm Grove.

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, chairman of the council’s planning committee, said: “I welcome this new start for the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

“The new development at Woollard’s Field means we retain hundreds of health jobs in the city and provide a modern convenient facility for the University of Brighton’s paramedic training courses.

“This is a good site for road transport links so crucial to an efficient ambulance service. I’m sure most people would regard this as an excellent use for this site.”

The Make Ready Centre will be used round the clock as a place where crews report for shifts and get vehicles ready for duty.

Ambulances would not be sent on emergencies from the base. Instead they operate from smaller response posts elsewhere, such as Seven Dials, Hollingbury, Brighton General, Peacehaven, Lewes, Shoreham, Hove, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

It means sirens or blue flashing lights would not generally be heard or seen at the location.

The plans provide parking for 87 cars and 34 ambulances alongside new trees and shrubs.

The new two-storey rectangular building will be clad mainly in zinc and be about 10.5m high, about three metres lower than The Keep.

Under an agreement with the planning authority, the trust will pay about £40,000 for sustainable transport improvements in the area. It will also ensure 20% of the construction workforce will be locals.