Transport links to the new hospital in Harlow remain a high concern, an council health board will hear.

Princess Alexandra Hospital was one of the six hospitals to be given the green light for development in an announcement by the Government in January.

The funding application that could determine the manner of the new hospital will be considered by NHS England in late June.

Although Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust bosses would prefer a new build on fields close to the new M11 junction 7a that could be ready to open by 2025, the existing site could also be redeveloped in a stepped phase development that may not be completed until after 2030.

But concerns raised by groups attending a workshop looking into the future provision at a new hospital near the M11, included those over its access, especially for disabled people, older people, carers and vulnerable groups.

It is likely that more patients will drive to the new hospital and parking facilities must be suitable for all patients, visitors, carers and staff.

A travel and access review completed by the hospital trust in February 2019 showed the new hospital site was accessible to 34,000 more people within a 30-minute drive.

And analysis conducted by Essex County Council concluded that the new hospital on the East Harlow site will benefit from infrastructure improvements being provided by the sustainable transport corridor and bus rapid transit routes.

A statement in documents to be discussed by a council health scrutiny board added: “It is also determined that a high frequency bus service would be required for the new hospital and these buses would pass through the planned residential development to the south of the M11 link road. Therefore, an underpass will be required to take bus services across the M11 link road, and make the site accessible to public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.

“In addition, the hospital trust is working with traffic and highways consultants to investigate the value and feasibility of altering the planned Campion’s Roundabout and moving the adjacent attenuation pond to accommodate the main hospital spur access. The roundabout would allow for a suitable two lane in and out access to the hospital, which was not anticipated at the time the initial junction works were planned by Essex County Council.

“Highways England and Essex County Council have requested the next stage of transport modelling to be completed to underpin the hospital being located on the new junction 7a and to secure formal Highways approval as part of the planning process. Jacobs (as the Essex County Council nominated transport and highway advisors) will be preparing a brief and cost for completing in April 2020.”

A statement added: “Over the next nine months, the outline business case development process will follow the HM Treasury Five Case Model to ensure that the new hospital development programme delivers the intended benefits, one of which is the optimisation of value for money in terms of economic, social and environmental benefit – known as the socio-economic case.

“It is important to note that although the new facility will be transformational in the way that services are delivered (e.g. using technology and data to improve patient outcomes) the same range of services currently provided will be delivered from the new site. Specifically, emergency services, children’s services, services for older people and maternity services will continue to be delivered by Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust.”

Lance McCarthy, chief executive for PAHT, said: “Following the announcement from the Prime Minister in September 2019 of the funding for a new hospital in Harlow, the planning for this and the development of the detailed business cases has proceeded at pace.

“Following a detailed options appraisal process last year, the preferred way forward, approved by the trust board in March 2019, was for a new hospital on a greenfield site. This continues to be worked up in detail as the preferred option.

“As part of the first phase of the government’s Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP1), our business case approval process is being overseen by NHS regional and national colleagues, providing the level of scrutiny and support that you would expect for such a large public sector scheme. The process includes a number of key milestones as we proceed to the completion of the outline business case in March 2021 and the full business case in February 2022. The next formal national oversight meeting of our scheme is in June.

“This is a very exciting time for PAHT and our local communities and I look forward to continuing to work together with them to create a brand new hospital and a great place to work for our amazing people.”