Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital building is approved by council
The latest phase in the redevelopment of Shropshire's orthopaedic hospital has been given the go-ahead.
Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital has invested £5 million over the past year as part of an £11 million regeneration of its site, including a new entrance and car park. Council planners have approved the hospital's application for a single storey building to house a orthotics department.
Orthotics is the use of braces or supports to help prevent or correct a deformity and reduce pain.
A statement submitted in support of the bid said the plans were part of a programme of improvements at the hospital.
"Currently the orthotics workshop is located at the centre of the hospital complex.
"It is within a temporary timber structure that is quickly deteriorating and will soon be deemed unfit for use," it added.
"The new orthotics workshop will benefit from a new car park previously completed as part of the new main entrance building and will become the latest building to be produced as part of the hospital's ongoing development programme."
Once the new base is open, the timber structure will be demolished and removed.
Permission was given for the new orthotics department under Shropshire Council's delegated powers.
The council's development manager Ian Kilby said: "The proposed building is required as part of the functions carried out at the hospital.
"It is considered that its scale, design and external appearance would not have any detrimental impact on the area."
The orthopaedic hospital has been in existence as an independent hospital since 1900.
It was taken into the National Health Service in 1948 and achieved NHS Trust status in 1994.