Proposed $69.5M Branford rehab hospital gets positive hearing

Encompass Health’s proposed $69.5 million inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Branford moved a step forward at the local level, but the project is still working through both land-use and state health approvals.

At a public hearing on June 24, the Branford Planning and Zoning Commission gave the proposal a generally favorable reception and then continued the application until July 9. Commissioners wanted more information about sidewalks and electric vehicle charging before they act again.

The project would redevelop the former Hilltop Orchard site at 596, 612 and 616 East Main Street into a 54,765-square-foot, single-story hospital. Encompass Health is proposing 80 beds in total, with 50 beds in the initial phase and another 30 added later if demand warrants.

A 900-square-foot gymnasium is part of the planned second phase.

Local Hearing

The June 24 hearing focused on how the hospital would fit on the site and what changes it could bring to the surrounding area. The commission’s decision to continue the application showed broad openness to the project, but not without conditions.

Members of the Branford Bicycle Pedestrian Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee asked for more detail on sidewalk plans. The commission also raised concerns about pedestrian access and the property’s topography.

Encompass Health’s attorney said the company would review the applicable electric vehicle charging regulations and report back before the next meeting.

The Branford Land Trust said it is willing to receive a conservation easement if the terms are acceptable, signaling another issue that may shape how the project is finalized.

Town economic development manager Perry Maresca said the hospital would help meet regional demand for inpatient rehabilitation services east of New Haven.

How The Proposal Got Here

The Branford hearing was the latest step in a process that has been unfolding for months.

CT Insider first reported the proposal in August 2025, when Encompass Health was planning a $69.5 million rehabilitation hospital for the former Hilltop Orchard site. Later reporting said local officials viewed the property as a plausible redevelopment site because of its location and relatively limited traffic impact.

The project then entered state review. On April 16, the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy held a Certificate of Need hearing in Hartford.

At that hearing, Branford First Selectman Josh Brooks supported the proposal. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare and Hospital for Special Care opposed it.

What Remains Unresolved

The local process is not finished. The Planning and Zoning Commission still needs more detail on sidewalks and EV charging before it decides whether to advance the application.

The state process also remains open. Encompass Health still needs a Certificate of Need from the Office of Health Strategy before construction can proceed.

That approval matters because the project sits inside a broader debate over how many inpatient rehabilitation beds Connecticut needs, especially east of New Haven.

Supporters argue the hospital would add jobs, tax revenue and construction activity while giving patients another option for care. Opponents in the state process have questioned whether another facility is needed.

Next Steps

The commission is scheduled to revisit the Branford application on July 9. Encompass Health is expected to return with more detail on sidewalk design and electric vehicle charging compliance.

If the local application moves ahead, the company will still need the state Certificate of Need decision before any construction can begin.

For now, the proposal has cleared an important early hurdle, but it still faces two separate approval tracks before the hospital can be built.