Surrey council is set to vote on zoning and transportation upgrades to speed expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital and develop access to the new Cloverdale Hospital.
Surrey’s Big Healthcare Shift: What’s Coming Next?
Surrey is gearing up for major healthcare growth, and the latest city council vote could fast-track two important projects. The focus is on expanding Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) and preparing transportation upgrades surrounding the new Cloverdale Hospital and BC Cancer Centre. The decision is expected at Monday’s council meeting, and excitement is building.
Zoning Changes to Speed Up SMH Expansion
City hall wants to be ready. Although detailed expansion plans for SMH haven’t been finalized, officials say the zoning amendments must be in place first. This way, the project can move quickly when construction plans arrive.
To make that possible, the council will vote on several key changes:
- Allow residential buildings without requiring commercial space
- Remove existing floor area ratio limits
- Increase lot coverage from 75% to 90%
- Boost the maximum building height from 5 metres to 120 metres
According to Ron Gill, Surrey’s general manager of planning and development, these updates will offer flexibility, streamline paperwork, and shorten approval timelines. Ultimately, the city aims to be fully prepared when hospital expansion planning begins.
Cloverdale Hospital: Building Access for the Future
Meanwhile, another vote will focus on the new Cloverdale Hospital, now under construction at 5500 – 180 St., just south of KPU’s Cloverdale campus. It is scheduled to open in 2030, and when it does, it will include:
- 168 inpatient beds
- 55 emergency department spaces
- 54 chemotherapy treatment areas
- 6 radiation therapy units
- 5 operating rooms
- 50 examination rooms
Once open, the facility will meet both local and regional healthcare needs.
Transportation Upgrades on the Way
As part of the approval process, Fraser Health completed a Transportation Impact Assessment and committed to major upgrades to ensure smooth access to the hospital. The City of Surrey has also drafted a transportation strategy aimed at handling the future traffic flow.
Planned improvements include enhanced intersections, safer walking routes, and better bike access. Moreover, a multi-use “health walk” pathway will border the site, offering a continuous route for walking, cycling, and mobility devices.
Parking will also be abundant, featuring:
- 730 on-site stalls
- 190 on-street spaces within five minutes of the building
Additionally, the city plans to create a parking management system and work with TransLink to improve transit options. Two existing bus routes already serve the area, and a direct SkyTrain connection to the Surrey–Langley line is being explored.
What It All Means for Surrey
All signs point to a coordinated strategy: prepare now, build efficiently, and open with smooth transportation and accessible care. As the city grows, healthcare access must grow with it. The council’s decision could set that future in motion.
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