Sandwell and City Hospital Multi-Storey Car Parks

Progressing vital schemes amid a global crisis

To support the redevelopment of Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital, part of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Prime delivered expanded car park facilities — overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to keep progress on track.

Like many landlocked healthcare sites, both hospitals struggled with limited parking capacity. As services transitioned to the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital, the Trust seized the opportunity to redevelop the estates, starting with a critical issue: parking.

Appointed as development partner, Prime worked closely with stakeholders to unlock each site’s potential. With both hospitals bordered by residential streets, congestion and on-street parking had long strained community relations. Prime’s collaborative approach helped shape solutions that balanced immediate needs with long-term flexibility.

To maximise space, Prime led the design of multi-storey car parks in partnership with One, Hydrock, and Stripe Consulting. The focus: efficient layouts and improved traffic flow.

At City Hospital, a six-storey multi-storey car park with 550 spaces replaced an existing surface car park. Relocating parking to the site’s edge freed up central space for future development. A temporary car park was also built on a cleared building site to minimise disruption during construction.

At Sandwell General Hospital, a four-storey car park with 400 spaces supported a new health centre. Prime addressed local concerns by proposing the demolition of an underused accommodation block, allowing the car park to be set back from residential streets and designed to reduce light and noise impact.

Prime embraced virtual planning processes introduced during the pandemic, ensuring momentum never stalled. Despite widespread uncertainty, both car park projects secured planning approval and reached practical completion — on the same day — marking a major milestone in Prime’s commitment to resilient, community-focused development.