Plans to build an eight-storey hospital transport hub in Bristol have finally been submitted to the city council.

Earlier this year the trust that runs the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) revealed its proposals to construct an 820-space car park near the hospital site in Eugene Street.

But plans to build the multi-storey car park on the site first emerged in June 2014.

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At the time University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) contacted residents of Marlborough, Eugene and Montague Flats in Eugene Street, to warn them of the intention to develop the land.

It has since been revealed that should the plans be given the green light, residents living in those flats would be expected to leave the accommodation.

There are 12 flats in each of the three apartment buildings, bringing the total number of homes demolished to 36.

The trust has said the flats mostly house NHS staff working for the group and that, upon approval, tenants would be given six months to move out.

Paula Clarke, director of strategy and transformation at the trust, said: “There was never an expectation that the trust would retain the site as housing for the longer term and these flats are not key worker accommodation.

“Leases are offered on a six-month rolling basis to staff on a first come, first served basis.

“We appreciate this is an unsettling time for people who live in the flats and we will ensure that tenants are updated, supported to find alternative accommodation and given at least six months’ notice of the date that the trust will require vacant possession of the flats.”

The plans would also see the closure of three car parks at the trust’s headquarters, Marlborough Hill and Montague Hill South. UH Bristol has said this would provide an opportunity for it to “create new medical facilities” in these locations in the future.

It is also claimed the new transport hub – which would include an 820-space multi-storey car park and a 400-space cycle park for staff – is essential to cope with the demands from patients and families who need to travel to our hospitals by car.

The trust says it encourages staff patients and visitors to travel by bus, cycling or walking but added that sustainable transport can be impossible for some people with medical conditions.

There are currently 300 car parking spaces available at the trust’s hospitals, but there were almost one million patience attendances in 2016/17.

Speaking about the scheme Clarke added: “We regularly hear from patients, families and visitors who need parking due to their medical condition but find it difficult to find a parking space on site.

“We encourage people to use public transport, cycle or walk but these aren’t always possible for everyone.

“Our plans will help to provide parking for patients who need to travel by car to hospital as well as supporting other ways to travel, including more cycling spaces for staff.”

The new multi-storey car park would provide the hospital with an additional 628 spaces.

It would only be available for patients, visitors and a proportion for staff and the trust has said it wants to use technology, such as barcodes on appointment letters, so that only patients have access.

Of the 820 spaces, 34 would be for disabled use and there would be six ‘active’ electric vehicle charging spaces.

It also includes 140 spaces for staff who meet the criteria for on-site parking set out in the trust’s parking policy.

They would replace the spaces in the multi-storey car park next to trust HQ, which would be closed.

The scheme also includes a new shuttle bus stop, linking the transport hub to other areas of the hospital campus, and a 400-space secure bicycle hub for staff use.

The bike hub includes changing rooms, bike storage and cycle maintenance areas, and facilities for oversize bikes and battery-assisted bikes.

Plans have finally been submitted to Bristol City Council following a consultation on the scheme over the summer.

The trust has said the response was “very positive” and that 90 per cent of people supported the plan in principle.

Many of the comments related to the need for additional parking and said a multi-storey car park would make it easier to visit the hospital by car – “provided charges were reasonable”.

But there has also been some criticism of the scheme.

The council’s cabinet member for housing Paul Smith has spoken previously against the plans due to the loss of residential housing.

And a nurse who works at the BRI has objected to the scheme on the council’s planning portal.

She wrote that the proposal will “only make it harder” for staff to find parking, claiming that some of her colleagues have to arrive an hour before their shift in order to find a space.

“This plan has not considered the staff who work hard in order to keep the hospital running,” she added.

Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter for Bristol