Planning Permission Submitted for Hospice Building on Gorleston Site
St Elizabeth Hospice has submitted a planning application to develop a community hospice facility in Gorleston.
The project will utilise a seven-acre site previously owned by East Coast Hospice, with whom St Elizabeth Hospice merged in 2023.
Following the merger, a full feasibility study and stakeholder consultations were conducted to ensure a hospice building and services would meet the needs of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney communities, while also being adequate for demand and financially sustainable for the area.
Norwich-based architects, LSI Architects have since worked alongside the hospice to design a development plan for the site which will grow palliative care services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
The project also sees the hospice partnering with the Louise Hamilton Trust as part of a united approach to deliver high-quality end-of-life services to the local community.
Judi Newman, St Elizabeth Hospice Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to submit this planning application and share our full plans with the wider community.
“With the invaluable support of Roberta Lovick and the Louise Hamilton Trust, we are in a strong position to develop the community hospice sustainably in a single phase. Their partnership has made this opportunity possible, and we are truly grateful.
“Roberta is an outstanding advocate in advancing end-of-life care, both locally and nationally, and we look forward to working together to achieve our shared vision of a community hospice for Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
“We also extend our sincere thanks to the local community and stakeholders whose valuable insights have helped shape our plans. Together, we are working towards greater parity in palliative and end-of-life care for the local area.”
The approved planning application will enable the development of a community hospice facility. The site will feature an outpatient and community hub that supports day care patients and provides therapy services, while serving as a base for local hospice staff. The development will also include a community café and an inpatient facility capable of hosting up to 16 beds.
Roberta Lovick, ambassador for the Louise Hamilton Trust, said: “The strength of our partnership will help us achieve our vision of bringing greater parity to end-of-life care in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
“When my daughter Louise died in 1998, I vowed to dedicate my life to improving end-of-life care in this community and across the country, and this project, alongside St Elizabeth Hospice, is a significant step toward that goal.
“This is something we know the community wants and needs. This community hospice building will make a drastic difference to so many people, improving local end-of-life care, giving people more options and support during their precious remaining time with loved ones.”
Since April 2019, St Elizabeth Hospice has cared for more than 6,000 patients and their families in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, through their healthcare partnership with East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH).
ECCH is a social enterprise providing NHS community health services in Norfolk and Suffolk. Based in Lowestoft, ECCH offers a range of services including district nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, specialist nursing, palliative care, community hospital care, and health improvement support.
The development of the community hospice facility will build upon and align with the hospice’s existing services in the area, with construction hoped to commence by early 2026 and estimated to take up to two years for the completion.
The need for a hospice building, serving the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney, can be seen via population trend research by the Office of National Statistics, highlighting how demand for palliative care will increase by 35% by 2040. Currently, only 2.1% of residents in Norfolk and Waveney die in a hospice – lower than the national average of 4.4% (PopNat Hospice UK 2024).
Ed Garratt, Chief Executive at Norfolk and Waveney ICB (N&W ICB), said: “This is a hugely welcome development, which aligns with our ambitions to enhance palliative and end-of-life care in our region.
“I wholeheartedly support this shared commitment from the voluntary sector, NHS and community in working together to improve services for the local population.
“It is good news for the people of Norfolk and Great Yarmouth & Waveney in particular, and I look forward to seeing the project move forward.”
The hospice building will be operated by St Elizabeth Hospice, and the charity is currently considering options for how best to describe this much-needed community facility.
The hospice will stand as a tribute to all who have contributed to making the project a reality and St Elizabeth Hospice will continue to engage with key stakeholders and the local community, as the charity further develops its plans and considers important decisions such as the naming of the site and facilities.
