A PHILANTHROPY organisation started by an oil tycoon has pledged £10 million to build a new multi-storey car park at the North-east’s main hospital.

The Wood Foundation, set up by Sir Ian Wood and his immediate family, has offered the eight-figure sum to NHS Grampian after Sir Ian’s wife, Lady Helen, raised concerns about how difficult it was for visitors to find a parking space outside Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).

It’s hoped the move will bring at least 1,000 car parking spaces to the Foresterhill Health Campus.

Speaking about the donation, Sir Ian explained: “We are very aware of the anxiety and frustration caused by inadequate car-parking at our hospital which will be even more acute with the new hospital facilities currently under development.

“My wife, Helen, has championed this project within the Wood Foundation because she has, for some time, been concerned by the distress felt by friends and family when trying to park their cars while attending for treatment or visiting loved ones in what is already a stressful situation.

“With every pound of public funding badly needed for the care of people in the city and Aberdeenshire, we are pleased to be able to support a project which will not take money away from front-line services but will greatly improve the access to facilities for those visiting the hospital.”

NHS Grampian will now need to get approval from the board and start public procurement and planning procedures.

But if these are successful it is hoped the work will begin in early 2016.