Plans Submitted for New Community Hospice in Gorleston-on-Sea

Plans have been submitted for a new state-of-the-art community hospice building set within landscaped gardens in Gorleston-on-Sea. The new building will house 16 inpatient bedrooms alongside facilities for the provision of day care services, therapy, and administrative support.

The project comes following East Coast Hospice merging with St Elizabeth Hospice in 2023, with the charitable organisations having a shared ambition to develop an achievable and sustainable palliative and end-of-life care service for the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

LSI Architects have supported the client group with the detailed re-design of a new community hospice building following changes to the project delivery model and available funding, as well as an increase in local demand, resulting in the submission of a revised planning application.

The design of the new community hospice draws inspiration from the Norfolk and Suffolk vernacular of farmsteads, thoughtfully blending into the local context while also providing a sense of familiarity. The building takes cues from the rural landscape, creating a calming and approachable environment that resonates with the surrounding architecture.

The outpatient building is designed to scale like a family dwelling, making it feel more personal and less institutional, with the inpatient buildings appearing as subsequent additions. This intentional design hierarchy ensures a smooth transition from public to private spaces and reinforces a sense of progression throughout the site.

The selection of materials features traditional elements such as roof tiles, metal, and brick carefully chosen to evoke a sense of warmth, familiarity, and permanence. The outpatient building features traditional brick detailing, contributing to the feeling of continuity with the local architectural language.

Biophilic design has been a key driver, with the goal of establishing a deep connection between the interior spaces and the outdoors. Throughout the building, generous openings and views to the surrounding landscape foster a sense of tranquility and well-being.

The hospice gardens form a significant feature to the new hospice and have been designed to concentrate activity and formality around the building, transitioning into a more naturalistic setting with circular walks. A joyful and uplifting planting palette has been developed for spaces closer to the building, inspired by the coastal setting and featuring pollinator friendly flowers.

The energy strategy for the project has been developed based on the ‘Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green’ energy hierarchy. This will be implemented through several strategies including using sustainable construction measures, improving energy efficiencies, and enhancing the biodiversity and ecological value of the site.

Every element of the design works together to create a compassionate, functional, and visually cohesive environment that enhances the well-being of all who experience it.

Judi Newman, St Elizabeth Hospice Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to submit this planning application and share our full plans with the wider community.

“Many thanks to LSI Architects for their invaluable support and guidance, which has helped us shape the plans and vision to realise our ambition of a community hospice for Great Yarmouth and Waveney. We also extend our sincere thanks to the local community and stakeholders whose valuable insights have helped shape our plans. Together, we are working towards greater parity in palliative and end-of-life care for the local area.”