New St Luke’s Hospital master plan details; Karin Grech Hospital will be demolished
New details on the St Luke’s Hospital master plan have emerged through documentation filed with the Planning Authority and the Environment and Resources Authority, showing that Karin Grech Hospital will be, at some point in the future, demolished with new buildings being erected in its stead.
“In addition to being of lower height than the Karin Grech Hospital, the proposed new buildings are to have smaller footprints, so as to avoid the current ‘wall-like’ visual appearance, further affording distant visual access to St Luke’s Hospital,” documents read.
The topic of Steward Health Care running St Luke’s Hospital, as well as other hospitals around the islands, has long been a topic of controversy in the country, as has the question of whether the company is investing in the healthcare facilities.
The master plan submitted by Steward Health Care to the Environment and Resources Authority for Environment Impact Assessment Screening describes a proposal to redevelop the St Luke’s Hospital complex into a healthcare campus comprising a total of 462 beds, facilities for rehabilitation, and a number of other ancillary facilities and services.
The submitted master plan documents indicate that a number of buildings are planned to be demolished including Karin Grech hospital. Other areas to be demolished include the Outpatients’ block, doctor’s residence and Hyperbaric Unit/OPU building sites.
It is proposed that the site should be developed in phases, but only the details of Phase 1 have been worked up to date.
“Phase 1 of the project will comprise the refurbishment of St Luke’s into a geriatric and rehabilitation in-patient hospital, as well as the redevelopment of the former doctor’s quarters to provide for the New Rehabilitation Centre. Additionally, Phase 1 includes the demolition of the Outpatients, Doctor’s Residence and Hyperbaric Unit/OPU building sites, Boiler, Kitchen, X-ray, Facilities, and Zammit/Engineering annex building sites,” an ERA document read. It does not seem as though Karin Grech’s demolition is scheduled for this phase at this time.
It is noted that a planning application to the Planning Authority will be made as an Outline Permit Application. It is anticipated that Full Development Applications will be submitted for the different project components.
“The Applicant’s design statement describes the development approach as being determined by detailed analysis of existing site / building conditions and a review of clinical service opportunities to maximise the site’s potential, and in support of planning policy. As described by the applicant, the scheme is centred on a full revival of the St Luke’s Hospital
Building, increasing the quality and accessibility to open space within the hospital grounds, enhancing community cohesion by re-integrating to the main entrance and Pjazza San Luqa, and establishing a more coherent internal circulation system which integrates on-site car parking provision while strengthening access to the public school,” the Project Description Statement reads.
“The development approach envisages the transformation of the clinical service and the campus environment, with four key value drivers that have guided the Scheme, regarding the demolition of some structures and the introduction of new structures necessary to meet clinical objectives which are: Rejuvenation and integration; Open space enhancement; Community cohesion; And legible circulation.”
“The full modernisation and restoration of the St Luke’s Hospital building is the centre piece of the Scheme, restoring the building to its original use for healthcare, while rejuvenating its architectural integrity and amplifying its monumentality,” the statement adds.
“The buildings earmarked for demolition are either unsuitable for modern health use and / or currently interrupt views of the scheduled building. Clearing the site of these buildings around the immediate perimeter of St Luke’s will provide greater visual access in enhancing the building’s iconic strength. The proposed new buildings have been designed follow the extant pattern of building placement, replacing the outer perimeter of buildings on-site, but, being scaled and positioned to further enhance views to St Luke’s Hospital. These future buildings are of reduced height, lower than the highest point of the Chapel (which is also integrated into the development for restoration).”
It is estimated that the project will provide a total of 981 car parking spaces, the document reads.
The ERA found that no Environment Impact Assessment was needed through its screening process. “However, an Air Quality and Noise Study are required in view of the increase in vehicular traffic during the operational phase of the proposal. These studies are to be submitted under a single report in order to allow for joint assessment.”