Helps fire safety teams prioritise action and investment Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Medway Maritime Hospital, has introduced a new digital system to manage fire safety information and improve its understanding of fire risks across the hospital estate. By taking data from multiple sources, the BIS Lens system created
Kier is set to return to one of the UK’s most technically demanding health infrastructure programmes as the Government revives delivery of the UK Health Security Campus at Harlow following several years of reviews, delays and rising costs. A new Government business case proposes reinstating Kier’s pre-construction services agreement for
Willmott Dixon has reached a major construction milestone at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, topping out the £140 million emergency care building that is set to transform urgent and emergency healthcare provision across Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall. The project represents the first Wave 1 scheme within the Government’s New Hospital
Healthcare specialist contractor Stepnell has completed construction of Northamptonshire’s new purpose-built county mortuary, delivering a highly specialised facility that is the first standalone development of its kind in England. Delivered for West Northamptonshire Council through the council’s framework partnership, the multi-million pound facility at Riverside Business Park has been developed
NHS Property Services (has surveyed estate leaders to find out how to improve building maintenance across their estates. The results reveal management of NHS sites is changing due to advances in how we collect data and use technology to tackle backlogs. While short-term decisions are often required to keep buildings operational, these are not
Emerging designs for the redevelopment of the St Mary’s Hospital site in Paddington have been revealed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, as part of a second round of public consultation on its plans. The redevelopment sees the construction of a new, 800-bed major trauma and general hospital to meet
Plans for the £1.3bn transformation of Leighton Hospital in Crewe have received planning approval, marking a significant milestone for one of the flagship projects within the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The approval paves the way for the delivery of a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will replace much of the existing
NHS Property Services has exceeded its annual carbon reduction target after cutting emissions by 5.2% during 2025/26, marking another significant step in the decarbonisation of the NHS estate. As one of the largest landlords within the health service, responsible for approximately 10% of NHS buildings across England, NHS Property Services
JJ Rhatigan has been appointed to deliver the first phase of a major new housing development at the former London Chest Hospital site in Bethnal Green, marking a significant milestone in the long-awaited regeneration of the historic East London location. The contractor secured the £32m design and build contract following
Ten major contractors have been selected to partner with NHS trusts as the Government pushes ahead with the first wave of its £14bn New Hospital Programme. The long-awaited Wave 1 projects form a key part of the wider £60bn national hospital investment strategy and will focus heavily on replacing ageing
Helps fire safety teams prioritise action and investment Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Medway Maritime Hospital, has introduced a new digital system to manage fire safety information and improve its understanding of fire risks across the hospital estate. By taking data from multiple sources, the BIS Lens system created by data experts BIS Consult, provides the Trust’s Fire Safety Group with a new strategic tool designed to bring together and analyse fire risk assessment information centrally, in a digital format. In one example, using the tool to examine fire assessments collectively revealed how a single, estate-wide approach to cabling issues would be more cost effective than several individual repairs. Medway NHS Foundation Trust is a single-site hospital Trust based in Gillingham, Kent serving more than 427,000 people across Medway and Swale. Neil McElduff, Director of Estates and Facilities for the Trust, said: “The new system is a significant step in our shift towards digital. It underpins the strategic direction of fire safety management and will help maintain a safe environment across our hospital. The work to date shows the system’s potential to drive similar insights for other critical areas of risk and compliance across the Trust.” New insights generated from interactive dashboards will support fire safety review meetings and help guide the Trust’s investment decisions by making it easier to identify priority risks, outstanding actions and recurring themes across the whole estate, such as further fire risk assessments, fire door replacement or new evacuation plans. Like many NHS estates, the Trust’s fire safety information was previously held across numerous separate records and documents, making it difficult to analyse information collectively. Jason Brittin, Capital Projects/Programme Manager for the Trust, who led the project, said: “The BIS Consult solution has demonstrated how we can transform the way we manage fire safety information across our hospital estate. The improved visibility of risk will help our fire safety and estates teams prioritise action, support regulatory compliance and make more efficient investment decisions.” The new structured digital approach supports NHS guidance for managing fire safety, including HTM 05-03, which explains how NHS organisations should assess fire risk and HTM 05-01, which provides the wider framework for managing fire safety across healthcare buildings. It also supports the ‘Golden thread’ principle of keeping accurate and accessible fire safety information available throughout the life of a building. BIS Consult has previously worked on similar risk management systems for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Airedale General Hospital, tackling asset condition, asbestos and RAAC. Nick Campbell-Voegt, Managing Director of BIS Consult, said: “The digital tool enables Medway NHS Foundation Trust to take a more connected, data-driven approach to risk reduction. By developing a single source of truth, it gives teams clearer priorities and ultimately helps create safer hospitals. Other areas of NHS estate risk can benefit from the same method, including water safety and structural condition of buildings or other assets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kier is set to return to one of the UK’s most technically demanding health infrastructure programmes as the Government revives delivery of the UK Health Security Campus at Harlow following several years of reviews, delays and rising costs. A new Government business case proposes reinstating Kier’s pre-construction services agreement for the specialist H50 high-containment laboratory building, while a separate two-stage competition is expected to be launched for construction of the wider campus. The decision represents a significant step forward for the programme after the main construction supply chain was effectively suspended from 2022 as the Treasury and Department of Health and Social Care reassessed the project and its escalating cost. Ministers have now approved the programme business case, with the overall funding envelope standing at £3.52 billion. This includes VAT where applicable, inflation, risk allowances and relocation expenditure, with approximately £3 billion allocated to capital investment. Early works are scheduled to begin in 2028, ahead of main construction starting in the final quarter of 2029. At the heart of the development will be the H50 bioscience building, one of the most complex elements of the programme. It will contain Containment Level 3 and 4 laboratories designed to enable scientists to work safely with some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens. The building will also provide the UK’s first suited Containment Level 4 facilities for public health, allowing specialist scientists to operate in air-fed protective suits within a highly controlled laboratory environment. Retaining Kier for this element is intended to protect the programme against further delays. Officials concluded that replacing the contractor could require another 12 to 18-month procurement exercise, potentially jeopardising access to a highly specialised construction supply chain. Government assessments indicate that only three UK suppliers have the capability to deliver high-containment facilities at the scale required, demonstrating the specialist nature of the engineering, building services and construction expertise needed for the project. Alongside H50, a fresh two-stage tender is planned for the wider main campus construction package, with procurement expected to begin in November. This package will encompass Containment Level 2 and 3 laboratories, headquarters offices, logistics and security facilities, reception areas, education buildings and a new energy centre. The extensive infrastructure programme will also include utilities, roads, parking and external works. The successful main campus contractor will be required to coordinate closely with the separately delivered high-containment laboratory project. The existing main building is expected to be demolished to ground level, although officials are continuing to examine the most appropriate procurement and delivery strategy for the demolition works. Before the programme was paused, Kier had secured the specialist bioscience laboratory package, while Wates had been appointed to deliver arrivals, administration and logistics buildings together with refurbishment works. VolkerFitzpatrick had secured the infrastructure, external works and energy centre package. Previous contracts have subsequently either been terminated, expired or placed into suspension. Seven professional services packages are now also planned to support the renewed programme from 2027/28. Once completed, the Harlow campus will consolidate UK Health Security Agency scientific operations currently based at Porton Down and Colindale alongside its London headquarters. The programme aims to transfer as many as possible of the approximately 2,500 roles currently based across those locations. Validation and dual running of the new facilities are expected to begin in early 2034, reflecting the extensive testing and commissioning required for such technically sensitive laboratory environments. The campus is scheduled to become fully operational in September 2038. With the business case approved and construction procurement preparing to restart, the Harlow programme is moving back towards delivery as one of the largest and most technically complex public health construction projects planned in the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has reached a major construction milestone at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, topping out the £140 million emergency care building that is set to transform urgent and emergency healthcare provision across Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall. The project represents the first Wave 1 scheme within the Government’s New Hospital Programme to reach this stage, marking significant progress for one of the NHS’s major healthcare infrastructure investments. Representatives from Willmott Dixon, its supply chain and the wider design team joined University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and hospital staff to celebrate completion of the building’s structural frame. Construction of the frame has required approximately 10,900 cubic metres of concrete and 1,900 tonnes of recycled steel reinforcement, with reducing embodied carbon forming an important part of the structural design from the outset. Around 55% of the cement content has been replaced with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), a by-product of iron and steel production. This approach has resulted in an estimated carbon saving of 1,625 tonnes from the concrete used on the project to date. The sustainability strategy forms part of a wider drive to reduce the environmental impact of new NHS infrastructure. The Derriford development is one of the first New Hospital Programme schemes designed to meet the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, placing energy performance and carbon reduction at the heart of its design and construction. Once completed in April 2029, the new building will provide four clinical floors of modern, purpose-built accommodation for urgent and emergency care. An expanded Emergency Department will occupy the ground floor, increasing capacity and providing facilities designed specifically around modern emergency healthcare requirements. Following completion, the hospital’s existing emergency department will be reconfigured to create a dedicated Paediatric Emergency Department. The investment will provide an important upgrade to Derriford Hospital’s healthcare estate while supporting services for patients across a wide regional catchment. Delivery of the £140 million scheme is being undertaken through the ProCure23 framework, which is used by NHS organisations to procure healthcare construction and development projects. With the structural frame now complete, attention will increasingly move towards the building envelope, mechanical and electrical services, internal fit-out and the extensive specialist clinical infrastructure required before the new facility can become operational. The topping out represents an important step towards the April 2029 completion target and provides a significant early construction milestone for the wider New Hospital Programme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Healthcare specialist contractor Stepnell has completed construction of Northamptonshire’s new purpose-built county mortuary, delivering a highly specialised facility that is the first standalone development of its kind in England. Delivered for West Northamptonshire Council through the council’s framework partnership, the multi-million pound facility at Riverside Business Park has been developed in collaboration with University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, Northamptonshire Coroner’s Service, Northamptonshire Police and local funeral directors. Bringing post-mortem services together under one roof in the county for the first time, the central hub will support coronial and forensic mortuary services across the region, reducing pressure on hospital sites, while also offering capacity to support cases from across the UK and internationally. Tom Sewell, director at Stepnell, said:“As the first standalone mortuary of its kind in England, this highly specialised facility demanded exceptional coordination from our healthcare delivery team.“The project required the seamless integration of complex mortuary systems and advanced scanning technology, alongside the creation of a building that delivers uncompromising technical performance while maintaining dignified spaces for bereaved families.” Designed with both operational excellence and family experience in mind, the facility includes dedicated viewing and identification rooms, cultural washing facilities and private spaces for bereaved families, helping to create a compassionate and supportive environment during difficult circumstances. The project presented several construction challenges, including building within a flood zone, protecting nearby wetlands and safely working around overhead power lines, requiring careful planning and close collaboration throughout the programme. Stepnell successfully secured silver in the Considerate Constructors Scheme, meeting the recently strengthened criteria. Tom added: “Working closely with West Northamptonshire Council and local project partners, and drawing on the expertise of our nearby Rugby head office, we’ve delivered a facility that will make a real difference to the communities it serves. It will play a vital role in supporting families and professionals through some of the most difficult circumstances.” Cllr Andrew Last, cabinet member for HR, corporate and regulatory services, said: “This facility is an important investment and has been built to support people at some of the most difficult moments in their lives. “This space allows us to provide care with dignity, improve how services connect, and support families in a more consistent and compassionate way, especially at a time where trust matters most. “That has only been possible because of the commitment and collaboration of partners across Northamptonshire, and shows what can be achieved when we come together with a shared purpose and a clear focus on doing the right thing.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NHS Property Services (has surveyed estate leaders to find out how to improve building maintenance across their estates. The results reveal management of NHS sites is changing due to advances in how we collect data and use technology to tackle backlogs. While short-term decisions are often required to keep buildings operational, these are not able to provide long-term improvements. This is why NHSPS has published a guide to Maintaining the NHS Estate to help estate leaders create the best structure to start to modernise the existing estate and ensure it is efficiently used. The survey found that: 1. 63% of estate leaders identified the ageing infrastructure the biggest barrier to reducing the backlog maintenance 2. 53% of estate leaders identified funding as the biggest barrier 3. 38% of estate leaders identified the scale of the backlog maintenance itself as the biggest barrier 4. 26% of estate leaders prioritise maintaining and improving compliance – legal requirements for estates as well as enforcing best practice standards 5. 25% of estate leaders prioritise reducing the backlog maintenance – there has been a 15.7% increase in the cost of the backlog in a single year, it now stands at £15.9bn – more than it costs to run the entire NHS Estate annually. The guide provides estate leaders with practical considerations as to how to reduce their backlog maintenance. The backlog maintenance consists of bringing estate assets that have fallen below minimum acceptable standard – Condition B – back to a safe compliant and operational condition. This should include building a complete backlog view and categorising the entire estate into core flex and tail. This places buildings into those that are essential, those that are acceptable but may not be fit for long-term use and those that are sub-optimal and outdated. It also considers how the NHS commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2040 (and direct emissions by 2045) is reshaping how buildings are operated and upgraded. Simon Taylor, Director of Policy, Strategy and Capital Projects at NHS Property Services at NHS Property Services said: “Estate leaders are determined to tackle the ageing NHS estate they manage, and their message is loud and clear, they want the tools to help them improve compliance and take advantage of the latest technologies to harness useful data and increase utilisation.” “The NHS already possesses much of the expertise, framework and data required to improve estate performance. The task is achievable; success depends on how decisions are made, how evidence is used and how effectively leaders are aligned from board level through to operational teams. When these are in place, strategy becomes action, leading to better patient care.” The guide also recommends that the condition of the estate should be reviewed regularly; planned investment is cheaper than reacting on an ad-hoc basis. By releasing capacity and improving utilisation, as well as modernising space, estate leaders can also reduce the long-term cost of maintaining their buildings. Finally, maintaining a rolling five-year forecast of assets and bringing clinical leaders into the discussions avoids the costs associated with inaction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Emerging designs for the redevelopment of the St Mary’s Hospital site in Paddington have been revealed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, as part of a second round of public consultation on its plans. The redevelopment sees the construction of a new, 800-bed major trauma and general hospital to meet growing needs and make the most of new technologies and models of care. Instead of services being spread across several buildings developed piecemeal over time, the new hospital will be a single, taller building on a smaller footprint. This will also enable the wider regeneration of the site to include an expansion of the existing cluster of health and technology businesses (Paddington Life Sciences) that has developed around St Mary’s. The latest proposals are informed by responses to the first phase of public consultation on redevelopment plans, which took place earlier this year and indicated strong support for the Trust’s approach. Public engagement events The Trust is now inviting patients, staff, local residents, businesses and community groups to feedback on the updated designs, online or at in-person events. This next phase of consultation will run from 4 June to 17 July 2026. It includes three drop-in events, where anyone is welcome to find out more about the proposals, speak to the project team and share their views. These will take place at: There will also be an online webinar on Wednesday 17 June, 6pm, via Zoom. Registration is via the Trust’s website (www.imperial.nhs.uk/st-marys-development) or by emailing imperial.redevelopment@nhs.net. The designs can also be viewed on the Trust’s website, along with an online survey on the proposals: www.imperial.nhs.uk/st-marys-development Feedback from this phase will help shape the next stage of design development, before further consultation later in 2026 and submission of a planning application for the hospital and the wider site in spring 2027. Increasingly urgent need for redevelopment St Mary’s Hospital has been at the forefront of healthcare and innovation for more than 175 years. It is home to London’s busiest major trauma centre and has a long history of teaching and research breakthroughs, including the discovery of penicillin. However, the St Mary’s estate is one of the oldest in the NHS, with parts dating back to its foundation in 1845. Imperial College Healthcare, the NHS trust that includes St Mary’s, has the NHS’s biggest backlog maintenance liability – the estimated cost of work needed to bring buildings up to an acceptable condition. And it’s getting worse – in the last four years, the Trust’s backlog maintenance liability increased by 22.5 per cent – or £157 million – far outstripping the £104 million it was able to spend on reducing backlog maintenance. This is increasing the scale and impact of building ‘failures’, including structural weakness in its main outpatient facility, requiring it to be closed with services relocated within the next year, significant structural problems in the Mint building requiring additional underpinning, and a range of other infrastructure issues creating infection and other safety risks. Latest proposals With funding from the Government’s New Hospital Programme, the Trust has been carrying out detailed design and planning work with the support of a wider programme team, including leading development managers Stanhope Plc, masterplan architects Allies and Morrison and hospital design architects HOK. Bringing services together in one modern, taller facility – around 30-storeys high – will provide better links between emergency care, diagnostics, theatres and intensive care. It will be much easier for patients and visitors to navigate and be more efficient to operate. It is also being designed to be flexible – allowing spaces to be adapted easily if needs change, such as during the pandemic – and there will be integrated teaching, research and engagement spaces to support innovation and learning. The busiest and most urgent services will be on the lower floors, so they are the easiest to reach, while wards will be in quieter areas with more privacy and natural light. And outdoor and communal areas, such as roof gardens, are being integrated into the design to support patients, visitors and staff. There will also be a helipad, bringing St Mary’s major trauma service into line with other services across the capital. Wider masterplan The new hospital will be built first, in a part of the estate that can be freed up relatively easily, allowing the existing hospital to run as normal during construction. Once services move into the new building, the rest of the site will be developed in line with the overall masterplan. This includes the expansion of Paddington Life Sciences, the cluster of health and technology businesses that has developed around St Mary’s, generating jobs, investment and economic growth as well as even greater innovation. It also allows the whole site to be opened up with plans for new public spaces, more trees and greenery, improved access to the canal and better connections with the surrounding streets and neighbourhood. Making better use of the land around the hospital would also release value to support investment in the new NHS facilities. Matt Tulley, redevelopment director at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “St Mary’s Hospital is continuing its extraordinary track record in healthcare and innovation, but our facilities are simply no longer fit for purpose. Despite spending millions of pounds every year on maintenance, we can’t keep up with the rate of deterioration, which is why we are now seeing an increase in major building failures. “We urgently need a new hospital, and we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure a future-proofed, landmark facility alongside wider regeneration that will bring even wider benefits for local communities. We want to hear from local residents and businesses, as well as patients and staff, to make sure we produce the best possible designs.” Next stepsWith partners in the wider St Mary’s Redevelopment Funding Taskforce, Imperial College Healthcare is continuing to explore additional financing sources and models to allow the main hospital building works to begin as soon as there is planning permission in place. The Trust is aiming to submit a
Plans for the £1.3bn transformation of Leighton Hospital in Crewe have received planning approval, marking a significant milestone for one of the flagship projects within the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The approval paves the way for the delivery of a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will replace much of the existing hospital estate and provide modern, purpose-built facilities designed to meet the evolving needs of patients, staff and the wider community for decades to come. Submitted by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the hybrid planning application proposes the creation of a 1.2 million sq ft hospital campus, with the majority of the new development situated to the north of the current Leighton Hospital site. The project has been accelerated following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) throughout significant areas of the existing hospital. Around 80% of the 1970s-built estate has been identified as being affected, increasing the urgency to replace ageing infrastructure with a more resilient and future-ready healthcare environment. The new development is expected to be delivered by the Integrated Health Projects (IHP) joint venture between Sir Robert McAlpine and VINCI Building. The partnership is poised to construct the six-storey main hospital building alongside a range of supporting healthcare facilities. These include a dedicated ambulatory cancer care centre, a central sterile services department, an energy centre, associated plant buildings and a 1,000-space multi-storey car park designed to support the needs of patients, visitors and staff. The project will now move into its next phase, with detailed design work and business case approvals progressing ahead of the procurement of major supply chain packages. A key aspect of the scheme is its adoption of the NHS’s standardised Hospital 2.0 approach. The model has been developed to improve efficiency across the New Hospital Programme by accelerating delivery, reducing costs and creating a more consistent approach to the design and construction of healthcare facilities nationwide. While the majority of the existing estate will eventually be replaced, several buildings located around the perimeter of the site are set to be retained and repurposed. Together providing approximately 96,840 sq ft of accommodation, these facilities include the current emergency department, audiology and ENT services, satellite outpatient facilities and the Ward 27 and Ward 28 buildings. The wider development strategy also incorporates substantial enabling and infrastructure works. Full planning permission has been granted for the demolition of the South Cheshire Building and its temporary conversion into a 283-space car park to support construction activities during the early phases of the project. In addition, outline approval has been secured for the demolition of most of the remaining hospital estate, the construction of new healthcare facilities, the creation of a dedicated emergency vehicle access route from Middlewich Road and a new servicing entrance from Flowers Lane. Extensive landscaping proposals also form part of the wider masterplan, helping to create a more accessible and welcoming environment for patients, staff and visitors. The project team assembled to deliver the ambitious scheme includes WSP and Ryder Architecture, supported by Gleeds, WT Partnership, Mott MacDonald, Greengage and PwC. Construction is currently expected to commence in 2027, with the new hospital scheduled to become operational by 2032. Once services have transferred into the new facilities, demolition of the remaining older buildings will begin, with the final phases of the redevelopment anticipated to conclude in 2034. As one of the first schemes within the Government’s New Hospital Programme to secure planning approval and move towards delivery, the Leighton Hospital redevelopment represents a major investment in the future of healthcare infrastructure. Beyond replacing outdated facilities, the project promises to provide a modern hospital environment designed around efficiency, patient care and long-term resilience, ensuring the people of Mid Cheshire have access to high-quality healthcare services for generations to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NHS Property Services has exceeded its annual carbon reduction target after cutting emissions by 5.2% during 2025/26, marking another significant step in the decarbonisation of the NHS estate. As one of the largest landlords within the health service, responsible for approximately 10% of NHS buildings across England, NHS Property Services plays a critical role in helping the wider healthcare sector achieve its Net Zero ambitions. Through its Green Plan and Net Zero Carbon Strategy, the organisation has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2040, in line with national NHS objectives. The latest reduction in emissions has been achieved through targeted investment in energy efficiency measures, low-carbon heating technologies, renewable energy systems and smarter building management solutions across community healthcare settings. One of the standout projects has been the installation of the NHS’s largest heat pump at Royal South Hants Hospital. The scheme is significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels while demonstrating how low-carbon heating solutions can be successfully implemented within complex healthcare environments. Elsewhere, energy upgrades at Torrington Place Health Centre in North London have improved both energy performance and operational resilience, ensuring facilities continue to support patient care effectively. At Kirkstall Health Centre in Leeds, decarbonisation works have helped reduce energy demand, extend the lifespan of building assets and improve internal conditions for both staff and patients. Alongside improvements to its own estate, NHS Property Services is also supporting wider sector progress through collaboration and knowledge sharing. Earlier this year, the organisation hosted a national webinar exploring how NHS bodies can translate Net Zero strategies into practical action, with discussions focusing on funding, retrofit delivery and long-term planning. Sustainability measures are now increasingly embedded across both new developments and refurbishment projects, including high-performance insulation, LED lighting, smart building management systems, solar photovoltaic technology, energy-efficient heating and ventilation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements. Nick Macdonald Smith, Net Zero Carbon Lead at NHS Property Services, said exceeding the organisation’s carbon reduction target demonstrated what can be achieved when sustainability is integrated into estate planning and delivery. He added that collaboration and the sharing of best practice would be essential in accelerating progress across the wider NHS estate. With measurable results already being achieved, NHS Property Services continues to demonstrate how healthcare infrastructure can become more resilient, efficient and environmentally sustainable while supporting the NHS’s long-term commitment to Net Zero. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
JJ Rhatigan has been appointed to deliver the first phase of a major new housing development at the former London Chest Hospital site in Bethnal Green, marking a significant milestone in the long-awaited regeneration of the historic East London location. The contractor secured the £32m design and build contract following a competitive four-way tender process involving Lovell, Graham and Formation Design & Build. The project is being delivered for Bonner Road LLP, linked to Clarion Housing Group’s development arm, Latimer, and forms the opening phase of a wider masterplan that will transform the former hospital site into a new mixed-tenure residential neighbourhood. The initial phase will provide 76 affordable homes across two residential blocks, alongside associated landscaping and public realm works. The homes are expected to focus heavily on social rent provision, forming a key part of the development’s affordable housing strategy. Overall, the wider scheme will deliver 274 homes, with 50% affordable housing measured by habitable room. Construction is expected to commence from June, with works scheduled to continue through to February 2031. Designed by architects AHMM, the masterplan combines new-build housing with the restoration of several important heritage assets on the site, including the Grade II-listed main hospital building, Sanitary Tower and South Wing. All three buildings are currently included on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. Alongside the refurbishment of the historic structures, the wider regeneration plans include five new residential buildings ranging from five to nine storeys, as well as new community space and extensive landscaping. A key part of the proposals is the opening of the former hospital grounds to the public for the first time in almost a decade. Plans include more than 1,100 sq m of open space, a new public square off St James’ Avenue and the restoration of the site’s historic formal lawn. The development will also protect one of the East End’s most notable natural landmarks — a veteran Mulberry tree believed to be among the oldest in the area — which will remain preserved in its original location. The project represents another major step in East London’s ongoing regeneration pipeline, combining affordable housing delivery with heritage restoration and enhanced public realm investment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ten major contractors have been selected to partner with NHS trusts as the Government pushes ahead with the first wave of its £14bn New Hospital Programme. The long-awaited Wave 1 projects form a key part of the wider £60bn national hospital investment strategy and will focus heavily on replacing ageing healthcare buildings, particularly those affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Among the successful firms, Skanska emerged as the standout contractor after securing roles on two separate schemes – the rebuild of James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth and the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. The first phase includes seven hospitals impacted by RAAC, which were prioritised after safety reviews concluded that the buildings could not continue operating safely beyond 2030 without major intervention. These schemes are now being accelerated under the Government’s revised delivery timetable. All seven RAAC projects will be fully rebuilt using the Government’s standardised Hospital 2.0 model, a platform-based approach designed to improve efficiency, reduce construction costs and speed up delivery across the NHS estate. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that formal contracts are expected to be signed during the summer, with construction activity anticipated to begin during 2027 and 2028. The line-up of contractors reflects a broad mix of established healthcare and major infrastructure specialists. Graham will deliver Airedale General Hospital in Keighley, while Sacyr UK has been paired with Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. Kier will take on Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon and Integrated Health Projects has been selected for Leighton Hospital in Mid-Cheshire. Elsewhere, Dragados will oversee West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, while Laing O’Rourke has secured the Hillingdon Hospital scheme in London. Morgan Sindall has been linked with Milton Keynes University Hospital, Bovis with North Manchester General Hospital and Willmott Dixon with the new Women and Children’s Hospital project in Cornwall. The programme represents one of the largest healthcare construction pipelines currently planned in the UK and is expected to generate significant opportunities across the supply chain as projects move towards delivery. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals