This week the Ministry of Health acquired land further north on the Wilson’s block between Cumberland and Castle Streets for the New Dunedin Hospital.

These newly purchased sites are currently occupied by VTNZ (155 Hanover St) and Wilson Parking (414 Cumberland St), and were acquired through an agreed sale under the Public Works Act.

Southern Partnership Group chairman Pete Hodgson was enthusiastic about this latest step taken by the project.

"This is another milestone achieved and I’m very pleased about it.

"It’s been a process that has taken a while, but has required good behaviour and careful conversations, and as people have understood what the needs of the new hospital project are, they have understood their role in helping facilitate that."

The ministry had not had to use the Public Works Act to compulsorily acquire any land for the hospital, Mr Hodgson said.

"There has been good communication, people have understood what our needs were and what their needs were, and that has been behind it all.”

The land acquired this week is currently occupied by VTNZ and a ground level Wilson car park.