A Norwich hospital is hoping that its plans for extra parking spaces could become reality before the end of the year.

Giving an update on plans for more spaces at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, chief executive Anna Dugdale told a council of governors meeting that planning permission is due to submitted in the next couple of months.

Ms Dugdale said it was hoped that if planning permission was granted, work could start as soon as October, with a view to completing it before the end of 2012.

Bullen Developments – which bought former farm land next to the hospital's Colney site in November – is in talks with the hospital to create between 300 and 700 new spaces on a private development known as Norwich Research Park South.

Ms Dugdale told the hospital's governors that further discussions were still ongoing as the exact number of parking spaces to be created, and part of this discussion meant she was doing all she could to ensure the hospital did not need to plough any of its own precious NHS funds into building the new car park.

She added: 'In the meantime, you might have noticed cars parked everywhere. We have had conversations with Octagon about whether we should put up barriers on verges or just leave it.

'My personal view is that as we are not able to provide enough parking at the moment we should leave it for now.

'When the new parking goes up then we can look at barriers, but it doesn't feel the right thing to do now.'

The new car park is part a small part of a 74-acre development, which it is hoped could also see a clinical research facility built and bring start-up, spin-off and established businesses to Norfolk.

The issue of car parking spaces at the hospital has been a long-running one and there are often queues to get one of the 850-spaces it currently has.

It is hoped the new car park could provide more spaces for both staff and visitors.

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