Harrogate District Hospital has received £2m from NHS England to help remove RAAC, or ‘crumbly concrete’, from the site.
Harrogate hospital receives £2m from NHS to tackle 'crumbly concrete' Harrogate District Hospital has received £2m from NHS England to help remove RAAC, or ‘crumbly concrete’, from the site. Last year Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, submitted a £20m funding bid to tackle the problem after engineers found 2,500 panels containing RAAC across the estate. The £2m is the first element of the bid to be approved. RAAC, which stands for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, is a lightweight material that is less durable than traditional concrete and has a life expectancy of just 30 years before it runs the risk of collapse. The first section of Harrogate District Hospital was built in 1975 during a period when RAAC was used in the construction of public buildings. It’s been identified in a number of areas at the Lancaster Park Road hospital including the therapy service department, two corridors, two plant rooms and an area which is not accessed by patients. The £2m, which was approved on December 20th, will be used to relocate services in the therapies department so the building can be demolished and rebuilt. It will also be used to eradicate RAAC from a corridor within the hospital and will be spent on designs for future projects to remove the concrete. A spokesperson for the hospital said:
“We are following national Institution of Structural Engineers guidance regarding managing the risk posed by RAAC roofing and are doing all we can to ensure that any RAAC used in our buildings does not pose any threat to the safety of our patients, staff and visitors. “We have mitigated risks that have so far been identified through remedial work, such as providing additional structural support where it is required. This work will continue to be undertaken to address any further issues that are found. “Future work will include replacing or propping roofing as advised by structural engineers and annual surveys of all RAAC panels will continue to be undertaken."The spokesperson added:
“We are currently progressing further funding requests from NHS England to support work in 2024/25 and beyond. “Patient appointments and elective activity have not been affected by the work being undertaken.”By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Harrogate College students celebrate artwork at new mental health building
Meadowside school to run Knaresborough Bed Race to raise vital funds
Harrogate's Harry Gray scores first senior goal to spark Rotherham fightback
Government's business rates package 'does not go far enough’, says Harrogate MP
Ripon teenager paralysed in freak accident continues flying ambitions
Harrogate's Revolucion de Cuba facing closure
Volunteer charity celebrates 60 years of supporting Harrogate Hospital
Harrogate care professional wins award for outstanding care
Sophie Ellis-Bextor to perform at Ripon hotel
Council considers charging for all public toilets across North Yorkshire
New flexible leisure memberships to be considered by councillors
Harrogate letter-writing workshops to mark World Cancer Day
Harrogate businesswoman shortlisted for lifetime achievement award
Harrogate signage experts celebrate milestone year
Your Harrogate and Harrogate Town host launch event for Local Hero Awards 2026
Harrogate Town to launch new Under 18s football academy
Director appointed to lead businesses at Great Yorkshire Showground
CCTV appeal: Stock worth £300 stolen from Screwfix in Ripon
Harrogate salon launches new hair system for balding men
Pupils take to Harrogate Theatre stage for professional debut
