Plans for an extension to Lister Hospital in Stevenage have been approved.

The proposed flat roofed three-storey extension, with single storey link, will extend from the existing multi-storey car park/entrance building. 

It will provide a new hospital entrance, toilets, administrative and hospital linked commercial units at ground floor level, with additional hospital office floorspace at levels one and two.

A total of 1,843 square metres of floorspace will be added to the hospital, which was built in 1972.

A planning statement prepared on behalf of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, says: "All of the new floorspace will be for the benefit of the hospital, and their drive to constantly enhance the quality of facilities on site."

Planning permission is generally not required for extensions to hospitals, but the NHS trust applied for a Lawful Development Certificate to confirm that the works would be lawful.

Stevenage Borough Council has now issued this certificate, approving the plans.