Following a successful bid to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund administered by Vale of White Horse District Council, work is now ready to start on refurbishing the ground floor of Wantage Community Hospital.

This work follows extensive engagement with the local community and health and care partners. Together, we have co-designed plans to improve access and functionality on the hospital’s ground floor.

The changes will allow a wider range of health and care services to be provided, with an increase of eight additional clinic rooms.

Funding

The £950,000 funding comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) healthcare allocation. This is money collected from new building developments in the area and used to support local infrastructure — in this case, health services. The funding is managed and distributed by the district council.

A long-standing agreement between NHS commissioners and the Vale of White Horse District Council has made it possible to direct CIL funding to health.

This has enabled the Wantage project to move forward. It also provides a model that, if adopted more widely, could benefit other communities and neighbourhoods in the future.

Welcoming the news, Emma Leaver, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s interim chief operating officer for community health services, dentistry and primary care, said:

“We are delighted to have received this funding, which makes possible the long-planned refurbishment of Wantage Community Hospital.

“We are now working with the building contractor to start work in the Autumn on a phased approach to upgrading the hospital’s ground floor, with the aim that everything will be complete by Spring 2026.

“The works will not only make the hospital fit for purpose, it will allow us to increase the overall number of services offered to local people and improve access for patients, carers and their families.

“Some of the new services coming to the community hospital will include a dedicated area for children and adolescent mental health services – something that local people wanted to see included.”

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, who chairs Wantage Town Council’s Health Committee, said:

“We have been working with the local community and our NHS and local authority partners to secure a sustainable future for the hospital, and it is fantastic news that we now have the funding to start transforming its ground floor.

“Throughout the planning that has been undertaken, we have sought to ensure that the views and opinions of local people have been taken into account every step of the way.

“I am very sure that the people of Wantage and Grove will be very pleased with the end result of everyone’s hard work.”

Councillor Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said:

“Investing in our community’s health and wellbeing is a priority for the council and I’m pleased we’ve been able to fund this important project.

“There is a growing need for a wider range of health and care service in the Wantage area – so this investment in expanding the space at Wantage community hospital is very welcome. Vitally, this will mean people have to travel less to access local health services.

“I’m particularly pleased with the plans to increase the range of healthcare services onto this site for those of all ages who need to access these regularly.”

Further information about the project, including the indicative timelines for the refurbishment of the community hospital’s ground floor, can be found in our previous Wantage Community Hospital update.

Announcements about the additional services coming to Wantage are expected to be confirmed soon.