23.07.2025
The Health Board will soon be able to share plans for the new-build element of the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) development.
We anticipate those plans will be submitted to Denbighshire County Council by the end of August. We will upload a link to the plans shortly after they are submitted. It is important to note, planning is just a part of the process of developing a major scheme like this in the public sector.
Our Board will have to approve those plans and our revised full business case (FBC). Assuming our Board approves the FBC, it will be submitted to Welsh Government in the autumn for a decision on whether to approve it and subsequent funding. If the scheme is approved, it would receive funding from the NHS All-Wales Capital Programme and the Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF).
Assuming everything is satisfactory, this means our aim would be to start preparing the site and getting spades in the ground in the early part of next year. We are keen to get started, as we know this is a highly anticipated scheme. Though there hasn’t been much news for a while, work to make the development a reality has continued behind the scenes.
While the pandemic stopped work on the RAH plans as we prioritised other areas, it also had a knock-on effect on prices. This meant the cost of the original plans increased significantly and we had to rethink how we moved forward. Our development and project teams have worked hard to plan a development which both meets the changing needs of our population and gives value for the public money being spent.
With our partners at Denbighshire County Council and within the voluntary sector, we are looking at building a valuable addition to the community services we provide in Rhyl and the surrounding area.
Gareth Evans, Central Integrated Health Community director, said: “We are in regular contact with Denbighshire County Council about the progress of the Royal Alexandra Hospital development. A contract has been awarded to design the new build element of the site and a planning application will be submitted within the next month or so. The new-build plans will include a bedded unit and Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit (MIAU).
“The progression of the scheme is conditional on formal Board approval, planning permission being granted and Welsh Government approval of our full business case. We expect all elements to have been submitted by the end of the calendar year and, if successful, would hope to start construction in early 2026.
“Reparations and improvements to the existing Royal Alex site are planned to go ahead separately to the new build.”
We’ll keep you updated on our progress.
25.05.2024
On March 28 this year, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board approved an option appraisal for the amended proposals for development of the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Those proposals would see the existing building refurbished, along with a new building including care closer to home beds, a Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit (MIAU) and other supporting services. The added benefit of this proposal is the strong commitment to working more closely with our local authority colleagues in social care and with the voluntary sector.
There will also be work to improve car parking at and around the hospital, making access for patients and visitors easier.
As you would imagine, there is now a lot of work ahead to complete the full business case before submission to Welsh Government for approval. Given the current constraints on capital funding nationally it is not possible to fully fund the original business case, and the First Minister confirmed he is looking forward to receiving a new proposal.
It was he, in his previous role as Health Minister, who approved the original plans before external factors beyond our control caused costs to spiral.
We are now set on developing detailed plans which incorporate as much of the original design as possible. We are planning local engagement with the public and our stakeholders over the coming summer to discuss those ideas in more detail.
We will publicise those events and keep you updated on our progress as we work through our plans.
See how you get involved with your Health Board by following this link: Get Involved - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)
22.03.2024
Since we developed our initial full business case for redevelopment at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl, the spiralling costs of materials, along with effects of the global pandemic and subsequent economic downturn have rendered the original scheme unaffordable.
While it may have appeared to members of the public the project had been shelved, behind the scenes staff have been working hard to develop new options for the improvement and enhancement of services on the site.
In this intervening period some changes to the way we work and how services are configured also allowed us to look at the project differently.
There has never been any change in our commitment to delivering a better and enhanced community hospital for the people of North Denbighshire.
On Thursday, March 28, revised options will be put before a full meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, at Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Following this meeting, we intend to share the full options appraisal we have conducted with the Welsh Government and seek its permission to produce a full business case for our preferred scheme.
Key elements of the new options, include:
Dr Chris Stockport, executive director of transformation and strategic planning and senior responsible officer for the development, said: “There has been a lot of work undertaken to get to this stage and I really believe we have come up with the best affordable solutions, which will offer greatly enhanced care in a fit-for-purpose environment.
“While this is the start of a process, I feel confident we have developed a deliverable idea for the people of North Denbighshire and something which will be valued as a real community asset.
“Working with our partners at Denbighshire County Council and within the Third Sector, we believe these proposals will deliver better care, closer to home and help relieve some of the pressures faced by Glan Clwyd Hospital.”
The new hospital, which will be built next to the existing Royal Alexandra Hospital, will include modern, fit for purpose facilities for new and existing services at the site.
New services include:
Welsh Government has given approval for us to proceed to the next stage of project development, known as a Full Business Case. This includes developing detailed specifications of rooms, and working through planning permission for the project.
Work is now taking place to progress with the project's final Full Business Case, which includes planning for the temporary movement of some existing services during the construction stage.
We are aiming to submit a completed Full Business Case in September 2020, with the intention to begin construction work in early 2021.
October 2020
Final plans to redevelop health services in Rhyl will be presented to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board next month.
The Full Business Case for the project to revamp services provided to residents in Rhyl and North Denbighshire will be presented at the Health Board meeting on November 12.
July 2020
More than 200 people responded to our appeal for feedback on the redevelopment of the Rhyl Alexandra Hospital site.
We’ve collated all of the feedback received through our survey and comments made on social media, and developed a frequently asked questions document which summarises most of the questions we’ve received.
Some of the most common questions were about parking, our plans for the existing buildings on site, and details of what services and facilities will be at the new hospital.
You can find some of the most asked questions here.
May 2020
Plans for the new hospital and refurbishment of the Royal Alexandra Hospital will be submitted to Denbighshire County Council in June.
There is also a fly-through video which has been produced to give an idea of what the new hospital will look like when completed.
November 2019
Kier appointed as supply chain partner for new North Denbighshire Community Hospital
July 2019
Work is progressing to develop the new North Denbighshire Community Hospital in Rhyl
Newsletter one January 2020
Newsletter two July 2020