Repair and maintenance works are being carried out on the former Bridgwater Hospital site at Salmon Parade in Bridgwater.

These are very early works and contractors have been initially appointed to remove debris caused by recent trespass activity and to make safe loose materials which were in danger of falling outside of the site boundaries.

Delicate works will then continue to access and shore-up deteriorated elements of the buildings, before commencing the removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials.

We can confirm that none of the main or Listed Buildings are being removed or altered at this time. The project is still in the design work phase and necessary planning permissions still need to be obtained.

The Grade II listed building, which has lain empty since the new Community Hospital was built in 2014, will now have a new lease of life as a state-of-the-art Somerset Academy for Health and Social Care.

The Somerset Academy for Health and Social Care is a multi-agency project. Former Sedgemoor District Council and its partners were successful in obtaining a £19.7million bid from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for the former Bridgwater Hospital, located in the heart of Bridgwater.

Somerset Council is leading the project through the design and build phase. The project will see the main hospital building returned to public use by creating a wholly integrated skills development and learning academy to attract, retain, grow, and upskill our key workers in the health and care sector.