New hospital and public transport access

WQ.125/2026

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY A. MALTMAN OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 6th JULY 2026

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 13th JULY 2026

Question

"Will the Minister advise what consideration, if any, has been given to public transport access to the new hospital, detailing –

1. the intended bus routes to the new hospital, including how he intends to ensure that all medical sites are serviced;
2. the intended types of buses to be utilised and any actions to be undertaken to ensure that these vehicles are fit for purpose in terms of accessibility for those with mobility issues; and
3. the potential impact on traffic in the area, specifically in respect of the frequency and size of the vehicles required;

and if no such consideration has yet been undertaken, will he explain when he intends to undertake this work and what third parties, if any, he will invite to take part in the discussions?"

Answer

Consideration has been given to public transport access to the new Acute Hospital throughout the development of the project. Public transport planning is being progressed in partnership between Health and Care Jersey, Infrastructure and Environment Operations & Transport (I&E O&T) and Li bertyBus.

1. The new Acute Hospital – and other sites included within the New Healthcare Facilities Programme – are already served by existing public bus routes. The specific bus services and route arrangements that will support the Acute Hospital's operation will be determined ahead of the Acute Hospital opening. The New Healthcare Facilities Programme team has maintained ongoing engagement with relevant teams throughout the Programme and continues to collaborate with Li bertyBus, I&E O&T and other relevant stakeholders. This is to ensure that an appropriate public transport provision is in place and that connectivity between the Acute Hospital and other healthcare facilities is considered as part of future network planning. Furthermore, the Planning Permission for the Acute Hospital included a planning condition requiring that public transport arrangements are established ahead of the facility opening.
2. Vehicles will be required to meet the relevant accessibility requirements and standards for passengers, including those with mobility issues. Included within the new Acute Hospitals' design is a bus stop adjacent the northern entrance. This will enable staff, patients and visitors to directly access the building under a canopy. Moreover, the Active Travel Route from St Aubin's Road (the "Inner Road") will also allow more mobile users a route from this well-used existing bus route.
3. The potential impact of traffic generated by a scheme is fundamental to any Planning Application and was covered in that for the new Acute Hospital, including in the Transport Assessment (TA). Moreover, the Westmount Road Mitigation Strategy has also subsequently been developed. The

Mitigation Strategy was recently considered and approved by the Parish of St Helier Roads Committee and I&E O&T, and provides the framework for the traffic associated with the Acute Hospital to be safely managed on this road.

Generally, the TA identified that the principal transport challenge is not an increase in general car traffic, which is expected to remain broadly comparable to existing levels, as the majority of patient volume will be accommodated at the future Ambulatory Facility at Kensington Place/Gloucester Street. Rather, the key consideration relates to the movement of larger vehicles including buses, ambulances and servicing vehicles on constrained sections of Westmount Road.

To adequately address traffic impacts from the new Acute Hospital, a range of mitigation measures have been developed, including localised junction and highway improvements, a Vehicle Activated Warning System (VAWS), bus headway management to avoid bus-to-bus conflicts, and controls for operational vehicles. The assessment concludes that, with these mitigation measures in place, Westmount Road can safely and reliably accommodate the forecast traffic associated with the new Acute Hospital while maintaining reliable access for public transport, emergency vehicles and other road users.

All contractors who have worked on the Acute Hospital site and BYUK, will develop a traffic management plan to ensure all construction transport movements are carried out safely without unduly impacting the network. These are required to be reviewed and approved by Regulators. As the Programme progresses towards the opening of the new Acute Hospital, transport and operational plans will continue to be developed in partnership between Health and Care Jersey, I&E O&T, Li bertyBus and other relevant stakeholders, with final arrangements for bus services, routes and operational requirements being confirmed ahead of the hospital opening.