Hospital planning for new facility; Manatee Memorial Hospital is looking into uses for a new hospital at Lakewood Ranch.(A SECTION)

Byline: Stephen G. Reed REGIONAL REPORTER

Manatee Memorial Hospital wants to move as many as 180 of its beds to a new hospital at Lakewood Ranch, both to serve the burgeoning population there and to prepare for extensive renovations at its main campus in Bradenton.

The hospital has asked the state for permission to move the beds. The state Agency for Health Care Administration controls the location and number of hospital beds to help keep health-care costs in check.

"We're requesting no new beds," said Michael Marquez, the hospital's chief executive officer. "We are relocating beds to improve access to care. Many of our patients are traveling across …