Britain’s war in Afghanistan means that a temporary 30-bed hospital annex at Headley Court will be needed for at least another three years.

And the MoD estimates that even more accommodation will be needed for critically injured servicemen and women in the future.

Defence Estates are in negotiation with planners to find a site at Headley Court which could be developed to provide more accommodation for the growing numbers of amputees and servicemen with other injuries who will need long-term rehabilitation.

In 2007 Mole Valley planners gave permission for a temporary 30-bedroom hospital annex to be built and now Defence Estates has applied for the permission to be renewed.

The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, which was visited by the Duchess of Cornwall recently, originally had just 40 beds but the number of casualties needing extensive rehabilitation meant that the new annex was vital.

A report to go to this week’s meeting of Mole Valley District Council’s development control committee said: “The annex building is required to provide 30 additional hospital beds to the existing 40-bed hospital unit. This is necessary due to the increased level of casualties requiring rehabilitation.

“As overseas operations are currently continuing there is an ongoing need for the additional beds at Headley Court to provide effective rehabilitation.”

The council is expected to grant permission for the annex to remain for another three years.

• What do you think? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.