A NEW two-storey entrance at Basildon Hospital will be built by the end of next year, with new shops and a post office all set to be included.

The huge project will overhaul the existing entrance, which has not been changed since it opened in 1972.

The entrance will get a complete redesign, which will offer visitors and staff more facilities and a brighter welcome.

Shops part of the new entrance will include Costa Coffee, M&S Simply Food, and WHSmith.

The WHSmith will feature the first onsite Post Office in an Essex hospital.

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Jonathan Dunk, chief commercial officer at the mid and south Essex NHS Trust, said: “The current front entrance has been here since 1972 and is in vital need of change to bring us into the 21st century.

“We’re delighted to be working with our new commercial partners on delivering this crucial improvement for Basildon Hospital.

“The new two-storey building will create a safer, more welcoming and modern main entrance that will meet the needs of our patients, staff and the local community for many years to come.”

Hospital bosses previously faced calls to increase the number of car parking spaces, before the plans were approved by Basildon Council.

A new 14-space car park will also be built, but 34 spaces will be lost.

The project includes a new bereavement suite, alongside a refurbished multi-faith room, new admin space and a welcoming hub.

A spokesman from the mid and south Essex NHS Trust said: “The scheme is being created in partnership with specialist developer Noviniti, which has delivered similar projects at other hospitals - such as Colchester, Poole and Northampton - and WHSmith, which will operate the retail units.

“Noviniti will be funding the cost of new main entrance, with rent from the retail outlets paying for the two-storey project. At the end of the 30-year lease the building is returned to the trust.”

The hospital will also benefit from a redesigned road layout that will make it easier for traffic to get on and off site. Work on the new layout began on Monday.

Construction on the new entrance will start early next year, with construction due to be completed by late 2022.