A significant milestone in the construction of the first NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) was cause for celebration this week for the project partners committed to making the facility a reality. IHP, a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, hosted the formal ‘Topping Out Ceremony’ at the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough yesterday afternoon. The event began with a piper leading guests onto the roof of the brand-new three-storey NRC, before key individuals were invited to cement their involvement in the programme by signing their names in concrete. Topping out is a common tradition within the construction sector, which marks a building reaching its highest level. For the NRC, this also means the completion of the building’s frame, symbolising another important milestone in the journey of this pioneering rehabilitation centre. The £105million NRC programme is building a 70-bed, state-of-the-art and highly energy efficient new facility, run by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. Research, innovation and training will be led by academic partners Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham. The NRC is due to open in 2025 and aims to transform clinical treatment for patients in the East Midlands, and set a new standard for research and innovation, and education and training in rehabilitation for the whole of the UK. The celebration was attended by key stakeholders including Sir Andrew McAlpine – partner at Sir Robert McAlpine on behalf of IHP, the Black Stork Charity, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, located on the same estate. Following the formalities, guests from the wide range of organisations enjoyed refreshments – courtesy of IHP – in the spring sunshine. Miriam Duffy, NRC Director, said: “We began this journey almost eight years ago in 2016, and so today’s milestone is testament to the teamwork and perseverance that have brought us to this point, which is another step towards opening our doors to patients in need of rehabilitation. “The NRC will not only serve as a centre rehabilitation excellence, but also as a symbol of hope for countless individuals and families across the country. We look forward to welcoming patients next year so we can help them start their own journey towards a better future with as much independence as possible.” Nick Carver, Chairman of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I continue to be proud that NUH has been chosen to develop and run the UK’s first dedicated NHS rehabilitation centre, and it’s inspiring to see it taking shape here in the beautiful countryside. “I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in this project to date – without whom we wouldn’t be able to mark this milestone. This celebration is really the culmination of months of hard work, dedication and collaboration of a huge range of partners and organisations.”  General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, DNRC Programme Director, said: “The DNRC Programme has always been about improving the way we do clinical rehabilitation in this country.  It is about ‘repairing’ more people after serious injury or illness, about creating better outcomes and, where possible, returning people to life and work.  “From the outset in 2010, this is what the late 6th Duke of Westminster, with the ongoing support of the Grosvenor family, set out to achieve.  The NRC, as the national hub, is the first vital step on the national rehabilitation journey.” Mark Bessey, Sector Director, IHP, said: “This topping out ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the exemplary collaboration and the technical excellence of the project team. “IHP is proud to be working with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust on delivering this flagship facility for the New Hospital Programme. The NRC sets new standards in terms of healthcare innovation and sustainability, providing world class rehabilitation for patients and outstanding facilities for ongoing research and development.”  National property and construction consultancy EDGE is providing project management and NEC supervision services for the delivery of the NRC scheme, with key project team members joining the event to mark the occasion. Joanne Hardwicke, Project Manager and Associate Director at EDGE, said: “We’re really pleased to see such an important milestone being reached on the NRC scheme this week, and it was excellent to come together with our delivery partners to celebrate the progress being made on site. “EDGE is delighted to play its part in bringing together patient care, research, training and education under one roof through this high-quality bespoke treatment facility to positively contribute to patient wellbeing.” Pip Logan, Professor of Rehabilitation Research and Occupational Therapist at the School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, said: “The University of Nottingham’s partnership with the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) represents an essential part of our commitment to uplifting – through our world-leading experience in rehabilitation research and education – the health of the people in our region and across the UK.  “It’s a pleasure to celebrate this great milestone in construction of the NRC and we look forward to utilising this fantastic new integrated facility.  “Embedding our training courses in rehabilitation, alongside our research in robotics, physiology, mental health, rehab technology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehab medicine and rehab nursing, with patients, families, clinical professionals, and industry is vital for our institution and for developing world-class rehabilitation patient services.” Professor Mark Lewis, Loughborough University’s NRC lead and Dean of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, said: “It is fantastic to see the progress being made on the construction of the National Rehabilitation Centre. “Loughborough University is proud to be a core partner for this state-of-the-art facility. We look forward to using our expert knowledge in research and innovation to help transform treatment and outcomes for patients, and to developing education and training programmes in rehabilitation that are truly world leading.” Recently, a timelapse of the first six months of the build and drone footage were released to give the public an insight into the ongoing development of the project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The

Newly-released drone footage, images and timelapse show progress of National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) due to open in 2025. Construction of the first NHS National Rehabilitation Centre – a 70-bed purpose-built facility near Loughborough – continues to progress, with the concrete frame of the building almost complete. The £105million NRC project aims to transform rehabilitation care, research, and training in the UK, and is due to open to patients next year. This specialist facility combines NHS care with research and innovation from our two academic partners – the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University – and is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough, already home to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre which opened in 2018, was carefully selected as the site for the NRC to bring together these two centres of excellence and drive rehabilitation standards both nationally and internationally. The construction is being carried out by IHP, a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine. Ryan McCormack, Project Director for the Construction for the NRC programme, explained that an impressive amount of progress had been made in first six months of the build. He said: “A huge amount of work over recent years has gone into the design, development and construction of the NRC, and the difference between where we were in September when we had just started the build, and where we are today is exciting. Our vision of the NRC is really taking shape. “The build hasn’t been without its challenges – it’s always difficult trying to continue construction throughout the winter months. “Inclement weather has impacted work due to high winds, excessive rain, and freezing temperatures, resulting in the rescheduling of concrete pours and preventing the use of cranes in these conditions, both of which are vital in the progress of construction of the main NRC frame.  “However, IHP continued to adapt their plans during the poor weather, and I’m pleased that we are on track to complete construction in Spring 2025.” Drone footage shows the five main pavilions of the ground floor of the NRC – Facilities Management, the café and staff area, the innovation and education pavilion, patient zone and research pavilion, and the main gym and therapy space. The latest footage also shows the progress of the first and second floors which are nearing completion – these will house the south-facing patient bedrooms overlooking the Leicestershire countryside, as well as some treatment spaces. In addition, the onsite energy centre frame is almost complete and will be the first part of the NRC design to be built. The design of the NRC uses modern methods of construction and will be highly energy efficient, with plans for the building to be carbon neutral to support the NHS ambition to be Carbon Net Zero by 2045. Work continues to integrate the Smart Hospital design to make the NRC as digitally advanced as possible, with the capability to incorporate additional cutting-edge technology in the future. Find out more about the construction of the NRC on our NRC website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Corstorphine & Wright has submitted plans for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds (Yorkshire, UK) run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The planning application follows extensive stakeholder engagement sessions to create a building that meets the vision of all those involved, including clinical staff, patients, and the wider MND community, as well as the Burrow family.  The centre has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, through its Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease appeal which has now raised over £5.3 million of its £6.8 million target. It will be a hub of innovation, education and excellence in the treatment for MND for the region, bringing together holistic patient-centred care in a purpose-built environment.  The brand-new centre will see all MND services housed under one roof for the first time, in an accessible location conscious of the needs of those who visit. Supporting all aspects of the patient’s journey, the centre will create comfortable and peaceful surroundings for patients and their families, including spaces to reflect after sensitive conversations as well as places to engage and create positive moments. The proposed building is arranged in three joined forms – an East and West Wing which house the primary clinical spaces, connected via a central atrium. This central space has been designed as a community focussed area with a mix of accommodation from reading and quiet spaces, as well as activity and dining areas. It will be a place for family members to use and will enable staff to observe patients in a more informal setting.  The first floor is designated as a staff area with a dedicated wellbeing space to provide staff working in the building with space away from the clinical areas – an important consideration when providing care to patients with such a challenging condition. Externally, the building has presence, but still fulfills the requirements for a centre that feels like home. It takes references from the local vernacular in the form of red brick tiles and gabled roofs, providing texture to clean architectural forms. Internally, natural materials will blend throughout the spaces, adding further texture and helping to support the wellbeing of patients and staff using the building.  The new centre will make the most of the existing landscape features including mature trees and will provide landscaped gardens with access routes through zones with a mixture of textural planting which patients can engage with. It will also provide spaces for other therapy activities to take place as well as a memorial wall for private moments with projecting roof forms acting as a transitional zone for those entering and exiting the building. Targeting a sustainability rating of BREEAM “Excellent” the centre will also be built with a vision for the future, able to adapt to new innovations and treatments for MND patients as they emerge.   Architect and Associate Director at Corstorphine & Wright, Toby Ingle, said: “As well as being adaptable for the future, one of the main visions of the new MND centre is to create a space for the MND community to come together to support one another, and this will remain at the heart of what it does. Engaging with what the community wants the new centre to be has fundamentally informed how we have designed the new building, from its location on the site and the materials we will build it from, to the furniture that we will specify and the colours and textures we will weave throughout the building and landscape. The Corstorphine & Wright team is honoured to be able to deliver this building for Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds Hospitals Charity and for the MND community, and the submission of the planning application marks a positive and exciting step forward in seeing it come to fruition.” Craige Richardson, Director for Estates and Facilities, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said:“Following extensive stakeholder engagement sessions, we are very pleased that the planning application for the new Motor Neurone Disease centre has been submitted to Leeds City Council. We hope our vision for this exemplary facility will be supported, having already received so much community backing. Once we move past this point, the landscape really starts to take shape, and we anticipate a rapid succession of activity over the next few months.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current [..] facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals