Southwark Council has approved plans to build a new health centre at Elephant and Castle, aiming to bring expanded, modern healthcare services closer to the local community. The proposed facility will replace two existing GP surgeries that have been deemed no longer fit for purpose. In their place, the new centre will offer a wider range of services designed to support residents’ health and wellbeing, forming part of the council’s long-term vision to create a more inclusive and healthier neighbourhood. Pending final approvals, the health centre is expected to open in 2031. The council plans to purchase space within The Hub development using funds from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The project will be delivered in partnership with the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board, with the building fitted out to meet NHS standards. Plans for the centre include modern GP facilities with improved accessibility, dedicated treatment and minor procedure rooms, and specialist services covering areas such as women’s health, long-term conditions, and mental health. The building will also house community services, including therapy and counselling rooms, as well as flexible spaces for group consultations, clinics, and outreach programmes. By bringing multiple healthcare services together under one roof, the centre aims to simplify access to care, reduce the need for travel, and improve coordination between providers. Officials say this will help residents manage their health more effectively within their local area. The project represents one of the final stages of the wider Elephant and Castle regeneration programme. Once completed, the centre will be leased to the NHS, providing the council with a long-term public asset and a steady income stream to reinvest in local services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A landmark £25m Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has been officially opened at Upton Hospital in Slough, marking a significant investment in the region’s healthcare infrastructure. Delivered by leading offsite construction specialists, Western, the new 2,800m² facility is designed to radically improve access to essential scans and tests for the local population. The project was completed within a 52-week timeframe through the use of advanced off-site manufacturing and BIM 3D modelling. By pre-assembling modules away from the site, the structure was made watertight within just five days of installation. This modern method of construction significantly reduced waste, programme risk, and disruption within the live hospital environment. Western provided a comprehensive turnkey design-and-build service for the project. Their remit included the full internal fit-out as well as essential external works, such as the development of car parking facilities and the installation of EV charging infrastructure. Operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week, the centre is expected to provide up to 150,000 additional diagnostic tests every year. The service offering includes CT, MRI, and ultrasound scanning, together with cardiology and respiratory testing. These facilities will support the earlier diagnosis of conditions like heart disease and cancer, while simultaneously reducing waiting lists and easing the operational burden on local GP practices and Wexham Park Hospital. The CDC’s location was chosen for its accessibility, situated within a 10-minute walk of Slough railway station and in close proximity to major bus routes. The development follows a detailed public consultation held in 2023, ensuring the facility reflects community feedback and addresses local health inequalities. James Clarke, Chief Strategy Officer at FHFT, said: “This is an exciting moment for the Trust and the people of Slough. The centre will play a vital role in addressing health inequalities by ensuring that diagnostic services are accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.” Rory McGuigan, MD of Western, added: “The Slough Community Diagnostic Centre demonstrates the strength of modern methods of construction in delivering high-quality healthcare infrastructure at pace. By combining advanced off-site manufacturing, BIM-led design and a full turnkey approach, we have been able to provide Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust with a facility that is efficient, sustainable and future-focused. Most importantly, this centre will make a real difference to the people of Slough – enabling faster diagnoses, improving patient experience and supporting better health outcomes across the community. We are proud to have partnered on a project that reflects both innovation in construction and ambition in healthcare delivery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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