A MAJOR expansion of facilities at an NHS site in Carlisle are in the offing after plans were submitted.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has put forward proposals to Carlisle City Council, on Monday, March 2, for a two storey expansion of its Capital Building at Hilltop Heights, London Road.

Proposals also include an expansion of the car parking from 100 to 165 spaces.

The trust provides hospital and community health services to a half a million people in the area.

They are responsible for delivering over 70 services across 15 main locations and employ over 6500 members of staff.

One service provided at the site is the Solway Sexual Health Clinic.

Stephen Prince, joint associate director of estates and facilities at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We can confirm that we have submitted a planning application for the Capital Building at Hilltop Heights.

"The application is going through the planning process and we await the outcome.”

The trust has however not said what services are likely to be provided in the extension.

According to the design and access statement on the council website: “The proposal comprises the erection of a new, two storey extension to the Capital

Building, Hilltop Heights, Carlisle.

“The proposed extension is intended to provide new accommodation for existing services housed in temporary facilities elsewhere on site, and to provide additional floor space for future occupation by other services.

“The site is presently occupied by a car park used by both the capital building and temporary facilities alongside.

"It comprises the existing capital building, a banked area to the southwest to the current boundary and an area of open ground to the north west.

“The site is accessed via a shared access from London road with various entrances into the existing car park and access routes around the building and to the portacabins.

"The overall footprint of the proposed extension, including link and stair core is 380sq m with the overall internal floor area of approximately 720 square metres.

"The extension is located on the western elevation of the Capital Building, in an area currently occupied by car parking. It is orientated in a linear format at right angles to the plan form of the existing building."