Residents of Luton and surrounding areas will have access to earlier diagnosis of medical conditions resulting in better long-term health thanks to a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) being built by Ashe Construction on the University of Bedfordshire’s Luton Campus. The £10m project for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, part of a £25m investment will see 1,500sqm of former teaching space remodelled to house advanced medical diagnostic services for the local community. This follows the reprovision of teaching space elsewhere on the campus to continue to provide, modern, student focussed facilities. The scheme aims to provide the services nearer to where users live and in more accessible facilities with state-of-the-art technology. Patients will see improved access to high quality imaging, and shorter waiting times for critical tests including, routine, non-complex CT, Endoscopy, and bone density (Dexa) scanning services all available there.  The facility will benefit from a new drop-off area and dedicated entrance to allow easy access to the new facilities without impacting the University’s teaching spaces. A plant tower will also be built at the Park Street end of the University’s C Block building to house all the necessary plant and equipment to run the state-of-the-art machinery. Ashe will deliver the project in phases to minimise disruption to the campus with the first phases including minor enabling works making way for the main construction and re-modelling work. The mechanical and electrical fit out will then take place, ready for installation of the specialist medical imaging equipment. With completion set for March 2027, the CDC will facilitate earlier diagnoses, improved long-term condition management, and better care coordination for many patients across Luton and South Bedfordshire, ultimately helping to enhance patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities for the local community. The project concept has been designed by Phillips & Co, AD Architects, TB&A and Perega, and the project design has been progressed by Roberts Limbrick; the project management is led by the Trust and BCAL is the structural engineer.  Cost management for the project will be provided by AECOM and Stuart McCurry & Partners is the Building Services Designer. Procured through the Pagabo Refit & Refurbishment Framework, the scheme provides a great example of cross-sector collaboration between Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Bedfordshire University, with further opportunities for research and innovation, and student placement opportunities for teaching and training. Ashe has recently completed Lloyds Court CDC in central Milton Keynes for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Gilbert Hitchcock House (GHH) in Bedford, also for Bedfordshire Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust. The success of the project at GHH has resulted in a further £2m contract to fit out the first floor, and provide £200k of improvements to the second floor, with completion scheduled for May this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Kier has been appointed to deliver the long-awaited £120m replacement for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, bringing renewed momentum to a project that has faced years of delay and uncertainty. The contractor will act as principal supply chain partner for NHS Lothian on the new specialist facility, which will be built at the Edinburgh BioQuarter in Little France. The development will replace the existing Eye Pavilion, first deemed “not fit for purpose” in 2014. Since that assessment, the project has encountered a series of setbacks, including funding withdrawals, budget freezes and changing government priorities. These challenges pushed back the anticipated completion date, with the new hospital now expected to open in late 2027 or later. An earlier proposal in 2018 saw Graham lined up under a £45m contract, but the scheme stalled as costs rose and funding arrangements shifted. The latest appointment marks a significant step in finally progressing the long-planned facility. The new hospital will sit alongside the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, forming part of the city’s expanding healthcare and research campus at BioQuarter. The site is intended to strengthen Edinburgh’s position as a leading centre for medical treatment, research and innovation. Kier has highlighted its experience in delivering specialist eye facilities, including the NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital and Sunderland Eye Infirmary, as key to supporting the project’s delivery. Sean Fenner, managing director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said the company was proud to be appointed as principal supply chain partner and to support NHS Lothian in delivering early construction works for the new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has appointed McBains to provide project management and cost management services for the construction of the new £250m Sussex Cancer Centre in Brighton. The appointment follows the recent confirmation of Laing O’Rourke as main contractor for the five-storey facility, which will form a major part of Wave 1 of the Government’s New Hospitals Programme. Located at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the centre is scheduled to open in 2029 and is set to triple the Trust’s cancer care capacity, supporting up to 60,000 patients a year. The new building will rise on the site of the former Barry Building, which prior to its demolition was recognised as the oldest hospital building in the country. Its replacement marks a significant step forward in modernising healthcare infrastructure across Sussex. The Sussex Cancer Centre represents the second phase of the Trust’s ambitious three-stage 3Ts Redevelopment programme. The first phase, the Louisa Martindale Building, opened in 2023 and delivered a major upgrade to acute and specialist services. As part of phase two, a landscaped public plaza will be created to link the new cancer centre with the Louisa Martindale Building, improving connectivity and enhancing the overall patient environment. The third and final phase of the redevelopment will involve the construction of a new service and logistics yard on the site of the current cancer department, designed to improve operational efficiency across the wider hospital campus. McBains previously delivered project management, cost management and NEC supervision services for the Louisa Martindale Building, as well as site enabling works for the Sussex Cancer Centre last year. Hemant Sharma, associate director at McBains, said the firm was proud to continue its involvement in the transformation of healthcare services in the region, building on its experience of delivering modern facilities that enhance both patient care and staff wellbeing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Plans for a £1bn expansion of the London Cancer Hub in Sutton have been granted planning consent, paving the way for one of the UK’s most significant investments in cancer research, treatment and life sciences infrastructure. Backed by Aviva Capital Partners alongside developer Socius, the scheme will create a major new campus bringing together global pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, clinicians and manufacturers in a single, highly connected environment. Designed by Gensler, the development will deliver a mix of specialist research and innovation space, including wet laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities and flexible offices aimed at encouraging collaboration across industry, academia and healthcare. Supporting amenities will include a dedicated Learning Lab, cafés, a crèche and landscaped public spaces, alongside 220 affordable homes for key workers. The campus is positioned as nationally significant science infrastructure, aligning closely with government ambitions to accelerate growth in the UK life sciences sector and strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in medical research and innovation. Once complete, the London Cancer Hub is expected to support thousands of highly skilled jobs and act as a catalyst for wider economic growth across south London. Buildings will be arranged around new pedestrian and cycle routes, with a strong focus on placemaking and accessibility. The masterplan prioritises sustainability, with all buildings targeting net-zero carbon in operation and designed to promote healthy, low-energy environments for both researchers and residents. With planning now secured, the project is expected to move into delivery, with contractor procurement anticipated to begin shortly. Construction will mark the next major step in bringing the ambitious vision for the campus to life. The wider professional team includes Arup as structural and building services engineer and Aecom providing project management and cost consultancy services. Once delivered, the expanded London Cancer Hub will play a central role in accelerating breakthroughs in cancer treatment, fostering collaboration across disciplines and reinforcing the UK’s life sciences ecosystem for decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Laing O’Rourke has been appointed as main contractor for a major new £250m cancer centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The project has moved a significant step forward after funding was formally confirmed by the UK Government and the New Hospitals Programme. Once complete, the new facility will serve as a regional Centre of Excellence for cancer care, supporting patients across Brighton & Hove and the wider Sussex area. The scheme builds on the successful completion of the neighbouring The Louisa Martindale Building, also delivered by Laing O’Rourke, reinforcing the contractor’s ongoing role at the hospital campus. Peter Lyons, Managing Director at Laing O’Rourke, said the project would be transformative for both patients and staff. He highlighted the company’s extensive experience in hospital delivery, noting that lessons learned from previous healthcare schemes would be used to improve safety, efficiency and build quality. The contractor plans to draw on digital design, offsite manufacturing and its integrated supply chain to streamline construction while reducing disruption for local residents. These methods are expected to support faster, safer delivery while maintaining a high-quality clinical environment. The new cancer centre is set to play a central role in the future of specialist care in Sussex, offering modern facilities designed to enhance patient experience and create a better working environment for healthcare professionals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Laing O’Rourke has been selected to construct a new state-of-the-art Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton & Hove. The Government, working with the New Hospitals Programme, has confirmed a quarter-of-a-billion-pound investment to create a regional Centre of Excellence for cancer services. Designed to serve a population of around 2 million and welcome more than 60,000 patients each year, the centre will focus on delivering safer, more efficient care and improving access, with every element shaped around patient experience, clinical quality and outcomes. Facilities will include high-precision radiotherapy in the basement, expanded outpatient clinics, assessment areas and a day unit on the middle floors, and a top-floor ward offering sea views. The scheme follows the successful completion of the neighbouring Louisa Martindale Building. Laing O’Rourke’s Managing Director, Peter Lyons, said: “This is an incredible project and one that I am proud we are a part of. The new cancer centre will transform the experience of care for patients and the work environment for staff. “At Laing O’Rourke we have a rich history in delivering hospitals, including The Louisa Martindale Building, so we’ll be able to use the power of our experience to improve the safety and efficiency on site, while guaranteeing the quality of product. “Leveraging digital design and offsite manufacturing, along with our integrated supply chain, we’ll be able to minimise disruption to local residents.” As a regional hub for cancer expertise, the centre will significantly expand capacity. A dedicated Oncology Acute Assessment area is expected to prevent more than 1,000 vulnerable cancer patients a year from attending the general A&E, ensuring specialist treatment in the right setting while easing wider hospital pressures. Patient experience is central to the design, with welcoming outpatient spaces and high-tech chemotherapy areas filled with natural light. Modern layouts will replace cramped, fragmented facilities, creating a calm, supportive environment for patients and families throughout their care. Research and innovation will be embedded, with dedicated spaces enabling patients and staff to take part in clinical trials and benefit from emerging technologies, including AI, so that global advances can be realised locally for people in Sussex. A new landscaped garden and ‘green lung’ will link the Louisa Martindale Building (Stage 1 of the 3Ts Redevelopment) with the Sussex Cancer Centre (Stage 2), providing a tranquil outdoor space for patients, families and staff and uniting the developments into a modern healthcare campus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major new integrated healthcare and research campus is planned for Whitechapel,  designed to meet NHS needs, deliver affordable homes for key workers, and unlock new  green spaces for the local community. The 1 million sq. ft scheme sits within the Barts Life  Sciences Cluster and is projected to add £1bn annually to the UK’s Gross Value Added (GVA).  It represents a £0.75bn investment into Whitechapel and is expected to create 1,325 new  jobs – a significant boost at a time of minimal national economic growth.  A planning application has been submitted by a collaborative team led by BGO in partnership with  Barts Health NHS Trust, including PLP Architecture, dMFK, DSDHA and BD Landscape Architects,  with Avison Young, Sweco, AKT II, DP9 and GIA. The proposals introduce a new model for co-locating NHS services, research and local amenity within the life sciences cluster covering Whitechapel.  In due course this development could release extra space for The Royal London, one of the capital’s busiest hospitals. It envisages a new 64,427m2 facility, designed by PLP Architecture. Alongside public-sector services, this building would oSer flexible workspaces – 10% of would be  affordable – for health-tech, diagnostics, AI and robotics companies, fostering collaboration between clinicians, researchers and private-sector innovators.  The ground floor would be publicly accessible, with a large foyer and café leading to a flexible  800m² event space for up to 500 people – designed for exhibitions, community use and as a space  to demonstrate MedTech innovation and research. The ground floor also includes amenity  spaces for NHS staff and a proposed new home for the Royal London Hospital Museum. At roof  level, a terrace for building users and staff from the Royal London Hospital would feature a 100m  running track, sports pitch and panoramic views across London – a space for rest, reflection and  social connection.  Across five new residential buildings and refurbished terrace housing, the development would deliver a mix of private apartments, open-market shared living, affordable family units, and specialist accommodation for key workers. 53% of housing will be affordable social rent homes.  Eligibility for 167 homes prioritised for key workers, will be salary-capped to target those most in  need. A further 61 private homes will also be delivered at a time when new housing supply  remains low.  A generous new public realm strategy, rooted in the historic grain of Whitechapel, will create a  permeable, accessible environment. The upgrade of Philpot Street into a welcoming green garden and the reopening of Walden Street will restore an east–west pedestrian route through the site. A  3,600m², 275m long fully revamped landscaped public realm and new open central courtyard in the heart of the main building will deliver fully publicly accessible gardens and amenity areas,  planted with 200 new trees. These spaces are designed to support hospital workers, local  residents and school pupils, while contributing positively to ecology and biodiversity. Shane DeGaris, group chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust said: “This is an exciting example of how we are working with local partners to bring much-needed  investment into Whitechapel and regenerate the area around our flagship teaching hospital, The  Royal London. The potential benefits for our staC, patients and their local communities are  enormous. We will continue to work closely with BGO and others in the Barts Life Sciences  Cluster to attract industry and turn our research into life-changing clinical practices and products  for our patients.”  Merrik Baggallay, Managing Director at BGO, commented: “People living in Whitechapel and wider Tower Hamlets experience some of the poorest health  outcomes in London. Life expectancy remains significantly below the London average, and the  borough has high levels of deprivation, long-term health conditions and chronic disease. This  development responds directly to that context, delivering essential NHS infrastructure, enabling  space for care, and establishing an inclusive campus that reflects the social, clinical and cultural  needs of the city. I am incredibly proud of BGO’s involvement in this groundbreaking and  significant masterplan and look forward to working with the Cluster and local stakeholders as we  move through delivery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The UK Government’s reset of the £56bn New Hospital Programme has brought greater stability to one of the country’s largest construction pipelines, but significant delivery challenges remain, particularly around the replacement of hospitals affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. A recent update indicates the programme is now on a more credible footing, with the final hospitals expected to complete in 2045–46. However, seven hospitals prioritised due to extensive RAAC use are not forecast to open until 2032–33, well beyond the original 2030 replacement deadline. For contractors and consultants, the reset offers longer-term certainty and a clearer forward pipeline. However, the next five years will be critical, with a tightly sequenced construction programme and limited contingency leaving little tolerance for early delays or cost overruns. Key milestones are approaching. The Hospital 2.0 alliance contract, originally expected to be awarded by the end of last year, is now anticipated in early 2026. Work to finalise the standardised Hospital 2.0 designs is due to be completed by April 2026. Market interest in the alliance has been strong, with more than 20 contractors expressing interest and 16 firms shortlisted to take part in competitive dialogue. Wave 1 schemes are currently scheduled to begin construction in 2028–29, including major developments at Milton Keynes Hospital and Leighton Hospital. These projects will be among the first to adopt the Hospital 2.0 standardised design approach. Despite improved programme structure, capacity constraints within public sector client teams remain a concern. Vacancy rates stood at nearly 40% in late 2025, with shortages in digital, commercial and technical expertise identified as a key delivery risk. The reset followed a review which concluded that the original programme was not deliverable as planned. It now comprises 41 hospital schemes delivered across four waves over the next 20 years, alongside five schemes that were completed prior to the reset in early 2025. Total funding for all 46 schemes now stands at £60bn, including £56bn of capital expenditure. This represents a significant increase on earlier assumptions and includes a £12bn contingency to reflect inflation, market pressures, engineering complexity and environmental requirements. Capital investment of £8.9bn has been allocated between 2025–26 and 2029–30, with annual spending rising to around £3bn from 2030–31 onwards. RAAC remains the most immediate risk to the programme. An independent review recommended replacing seven RAAC hospitals by 2030, but that deadline will be missed. By 2025, more than £500m had already been spent on mitigation measures, while NHS trusts continue to incur between £100m and £140m a year in additional maintenance costs as replacement projects are delayed. The reset places strong emphasis on the Hospital 2.0 model, which aims to standardise layouts, improve buildability and create a more predictable market for contractors. Features include single-patient rooms, reduced staff travel distances, digital patient records and enhanced monitoring technology. Across 28 Hospital 2.0 schemes, average overnight bed numbers are expected to increase by around 6%. While the programme now rests on firmer foundations, maintaining delivery discipline will be essential if long-term ambitions are to be realised and further delays avoided. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals