Plans to demolish and rebuild the entrance at Warwick Hospital to create a "state-of-the-art" facility have signed off by district planners who said the scheme would help improve the quality of life for local residents.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust had applied for permission to knock down the existing buildings and replace them with a three-storey extension.

The scheme forms phase one of the trust's masterplan to improve facilities at the 474-bed hospital.

The application to Warwick District Council said the work is necessary as the "poor physical environment" has restricted the "quality and range of services" provided by clinical teams.

It also says the current entrance and surrounding buildings are in a "poor state of repair and merit demolition".

Plans were signed off this week, with a council report saying the first stage of the hospital's redevelopment will have a clear community benefit.

"The proposal would provide improved health services and facilities for residents of the district and beyond, promoting healthy communities, with the aim to reduce health inequalities, increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life," it said.

It added: "The proposed modern clinical and non-clinical support accommodation within the proposal would provide better service delivery to serve the healthcare needs of patients."

The trust has now been given permission to build a new ground floor reception, plant room and admission suite as well as exterior landscaping.

Two wards comprising 32 beds will now be relocated into the two levels, providing 40 beds.

Plans state that works on site will not limit the day-to-day running of the hospital.

"This development will provide a modern new entrance to the hospital with state-of-the-art floorspace in the upper levels," the application said.

The application also includes solar panels on the roof.

The application forms phase one of the trust's masterplan for Warwick Hosptial (image via planning application)

The council's report added: "The proposed building would consolidate and expand the existing hospital uses and combine them into a single, efficient block.

"This would reduce the spread of development across the site and provide for an external restaurant area to the west.

"The development would be within the footprint of the existing development and would not extend closer to neighbouring, non-hospital development than the existing buildings.

"The siting of the building is therefore considered acceptable."

The hospital eventually plans to also demolish and rebuild the buildings next to the entrance, as well as the day surgery unit and radiology and then the Mains/Suire Ward. These will all come as separate applications in the next few years.

The trust says the new entrance will be a 'state-of-the-art' facility (image via planning application)