North View, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH)’s new state-of-the-art mental health unit currently under construction in North Manchester, will be the first all-electric mental health unit in the country when it opens its doors in 2024. This major step forward will support NHS England’s national agenda
PATIENTS and staff on a London hospital ward are now benefitting from more efficient facilities following a completed refurbishment project by multi-disciplinary consultancy, Pick Everard. The major trauma ward at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Tooting, has undergone operational and spatial improvements, including upgraded sanitary facilities, bedhead services and infrastructure elements
Plans to develop the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) site, including building a brand-new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, have been given the green light by local planners. The Unit has been designed by global design practice BDP and will be built by contractor Tilbury Douglas. The Dorset County Hospital NHS
FUNDING for Nottingham University Hospital’s new National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) has been granted government approval for its £105million plans. This approval means work can be completed for the 70-bed purpose-built and highly energy efficient facility, which aims to combine patient care with research, innovation, and training for NHS staff across
A state-of-the-art independent private hospital specialising in cosmetic and plastic surgery has been completed at Granton on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Waterfront Hospital, owned and managed by consultant plastic surgeons Awf and Omar Quaba, has been designed by award-winning NVDC Architects which has a wealth of design experience across
A major milestone for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (GMMH) new flagship adult mental health inpatient unit has been reached with a topping out ceremony on Thursday 21 September marking the completion of the highest point of the build and the last piece of steel frame being fixed
Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, has started construction work on a £42 million, 125,000 sq ft specialist lab space at an internationally significant health innovation campus. With the UK in the midst of a significant shortage of lab space to support the demand
National property consultancy Carter Jonas has secured planning permission on behalf of London Square Developments and NHS Property Services Ltd for the development of 125 new apartments, commercial and community uses in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The scheme will provide flexible commercial and community uses at ground
Daniel May of Consort reviews the integration of access control systems in healthcare settings, outlining the benefits and key considerations decision makers must make throughout product specification. From patient safety and traversal to the protection of sensitive data and pharmaceuticals, today’s healthcare environments are faced with several operational challenges. And
Willmott Dixon has announced the start of construction work on two new state-of-the-art specialist healthcare facilities, developed by Prime plc in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). Situated on plot 2 of the Adanac Health and Innovation Campus in Southampton, the new multi-use facility, which is being
North View, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH)’s new state-of-the-art mental health unit currently under construction in North Manchester, will be the first all-electric mental health unit in the country when it opens its doors in 2024. This major step forward will support NHS England’s national agenda to deliver a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service, by reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and decarbonising the healthcare estate. GMMH is investing £105.9 million in modern facilities with the construction of the new adult mental health inpatient unit to replace Park House, the current mental health unit on the North Manchester General Hospital site. Work on North View started in August 2022 with the new unit anticipated to be built and operational by 2024. Once completed, the upgrade will see improvements to patient experience, with spacious single bedrooms, each with a private en-suite shower room, as well as a variety of indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, spaces for therapeutic artwork and a café. It will house a purpose-built Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), eight adult acute wards and a treatment suite. The building has been specifically designed to minimise its environmental impact, through renewable energy sources, innovative technology and sustainable materials to optimise energy efficiency. It will include the following: Marc Reed, Associate Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) said:“We are incredibly proud to say that North View will be the first all-electric mental health unit in the country.Sustainability and the environment is a huge national agenda, and is something we have been striving to support through the delivery of this project, which can have a significant impact on the health of our communities. It’s extremely important that we do all we can to support this through the design, build and future operation of our new mental health unit for North Manchester.“Through renewable energy, innovative technology and sustainable materials, we will be able to manage and optimise energy usage and significantly reduce our carbon footprint; whilst maintaining a comfortable, therapeutic environment for our patients, visitors and staff.” This new development is part of an exciting vision for North Manchester General Hospital to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. GMMH is working with its Principal Supply Chain Partner, Integrated Health Projects (the alliance between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine) to deliver the project. GMMH recently shared drone footage of North View under construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PATIENTS and staff on a London hospital ward are now benefitting from more efficient facilities following a completed refurbishment project by multi-disciplinary consultancy, Pick Everard. The major trauma ward at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Tooting, has undergone operational and spatial improvements, including upgraded sanitary facilities, bedhead services and infrastructure elements such as power and ventilation. Pick Everard completed full RIBA Stage 1-6 delivery covering architecture, structural engineering, design management, health and safety services (CDM) and clerk of works. John Clarke, director at Pick Everard, said: “While the ward itself was isolated and completely shut down during the works, this project took place within a live hospital site requiring a high level of competence and care. “I believe much of the success can be put down to the collaborative approach between our in-house departments, which provided an effective, coordinated solution for the client. We were able to realise their design aspirations within the practical constraints of an existing building, project budget and demanding programme.” St George’s is one of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals and is the largest provider of acute healthcare services in southwest London. It has one of the busiest emergency departments in the country and operates several major trauma wards, which were constructed in the 1980s. The major trauma ward’s new design altered the existing arrangement to reduce overcrowding and bring it in line with current regulations. There are now four multi-bed bays containing 18 beds and four single rooms with ensuites, and two assisted showers. Clinical compliance spaces including a new treatment room and dirty/clean utility rooms were added, and the staff room and kitchen space were also improved with lockers for private storage. A new air handling unit (AHU) and UPS / IPS plant also needed to be installed on the ward’s roof. This demanded careful coordination, as the existing roof contained a helipad and all associated services within a helipad cabin. To mitigate any conflicts with the operation of the helipad, the Pick Everard team conducted various design option studies and risk analyses on potential plant locations. This involved extensive consultations with the building’s incumbent specialist suppliers and contractors to minimise disruption and mitigate risks during the construction phase. “While we have extensive experience in the healthcare sector, this was our first project with this particular NHS Trust,” John added. “It was attained through the £1.6bn NHS Shared Business Services Framework that Pick Everard was recently re-appointed to. Originally, we were brought in for a feasibility study, but this became a full Stage 1-6 delivery – a great achievement for the team and reflective of our understanding and reputation in this sector.” Due to the high number of stakeholders and end users within the project, consultation and engagement was a priority throughout. Pick Everard arranged regular meetings and workshops to ensure the end results would be compliant with the health building notes (HBN) and health technical memoranda (HTM) criteria, with all design proposals scrutinised by the client’s technical advisers. A representative of the trust stated, said: “From the outset, the team at Pick Everard understood fully the needs of this refurbishment. They worked hard to understand the best way to deliver this effectively and within the difficult constraints of a live site, with deadlines and budgets considered. The result has been a fantastic overhaul of the Holdsworth ward that is now back up and running, and already we can see the difference in day-to-day operations, benefitting not only our patients but our staff also.” For more information on Pick Everard and its services, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to develop the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) site, including building a brand-new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, have been given the green light by local planners. The Unit has been designed by global design practice BDP and will be built by contractor Tilbury Douglas. The Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Your Future Hospital programme sets out plans to expand facilities on the site in Dorchester and help meet increasing demand. These include building a new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit (CrCU) on the site of the former Damers First School, as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. It will include a rooftop helipad, purpose-built spaces for both major and minor injuries and conditions, a mental health facility, a dedicated emergency paediatrics area, 24 critical care beds, and an ambulance arrivals and fast assessment area. The Trust submitted its reserved matters application to Dorset Council over the summer after receiving outlining planning permission in January. Now that these have now been approved, DCH has full planning permission to build the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit. Matthew Bryant, Chief Executive of Dorset County Hospital, said: “This is a significant milestone for Dorset County Hospital and brings us a step closer to building our new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. “This development is very important for the population of Dorset and will deliver much larger, state-of-the-art facilities for patients most in need of life-saving care. “It will improve care for patients and help us attract and retain staff who want to provide high quality specialist healthcare in modern facilities. It’s a very exciting time for us at DCH and we’re delighted that Dorset Council has approved the plans.” Subject to full business case approval by the Government, main construction work on the new ED and CrCU is due to begin in 2024. Nick Durham, Architect Director at BDP, designers of the new unit said: “The design of these new specialist facilities is based on creating flexible spaces that can adapt to changing patterns of demand, supporting a model of care focused on reducing pressure on these services. We have undertaken an inclusive and engaging consultation process with staff and wider stakeholders drawing on technologies such as virtual reality to ensure the design proposals are an accurate representation of their needs. Today’s news is an important move towards delivering improved, efficient, and effective emergency and critical care for people across Dorset.” Paul Gale, Divisional Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “Achieving the green light from the planners is a really exciting moment, not only for the local community, but the project teams whose dedicated work has secured this lifechanging resource. “Our teams are geared up for the next stages of construction and we’re looking forward to moving ahead with enabling works and the main New Hospital Programme scheme on site.” The former Damers School building was demolished over the summer and groundworks to prepare the site for development will begin in October. More information about the scheme can be found at www.dchft.nhs.uk/nhp-scheme The planning application also includes the Trust’s longer-term aspirations to improve the hospital’s main entrance, provide integrated care and key worker housing for staff. Read more at www.dchft.nhs.uk/your-future-hospital. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
FUNDING for Nottingham University Hospital’s new National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) has been granted government approval for its £105million plans. This approval means work can be completed for the 70-bed purpose-built and highly energy efficient facility, which aims to combine patient care with research, innovation, and training for NHS staff across the nation. Leading multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy EDGE has been appointed to the scheme to provide project management and NEC supervision services. The new building will be part of the government’s New Hospital Programme with its primary objective to act as a National Rehabilitation Centre of excellence to transform how people recover and regain fitness following serious injury or illness. It will be carbon net zero and built on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate, sitting alongside the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, which opened in 2018. Joanne Hardwicke, project manager and associate director at EDGE said: “Having worked closely with the Trust, it’s fantastic news that the funding has been granted for the NRC. It’s a much-needed facility that will enable better outcomes for people who have been seriously injured or experience debilitating illness, allowing the NHS to widen access to rehabilitation services and improve patient outcomes. “We’re very much looking forward to continuing our work with the wider project delivery team, and knowing it will benefit the lives of many means we’re incredibly proud to play our part in making it a reality. We will continue working collaboratively on the project and monitor the stages throughout, and can’t wait to see the facility come to fruition.” EDGE bring extensive health and social care experience which includes the ongoing development and delivery of key NHS funded capital investments including the New Hospital Programme, RAAC programme, Dormitory Eradication Programme and sub-regional Clinical Diagnostic facilities. This experience will be central to facilitating the delivery of the NRC which has been purpose-designed around the patients it will treat, including specialist clinical and technical spaces. Natalie Forrest, senior responsible officer for New Hospital Programme at the Department of Health and Social care, said: “This marks a highly significant and exciting day for investment into our New Hospital Programme and for the creation of a UK first facility of its type – a National Rehabilitation Centre. The benefits to NHS patients will be substantial and life changing. “This is the latest of our New Hospital Programme schemes to get under way as part of the biggest hospital building programme in a generation, providing more effective and efficient facilities that will help transform the way care is delivered.” EDGE’s extensive portfolio also includes the Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s new Urgent and Emergency Care Department, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS current £110m Dormitory Eradication programme and the Northern Care Alliance’s new surgical ward block at Royal Oldham Hospital. EDGE has subsequently been shortlisted for Consultancy of the Year at the 2023 IHEEM Healthcare Awards. For more information on EDGE and its services, follow the link below: https://www.edgeps.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A state-of-the-art independent private hospital specialising in cosmetic and plastic surgery has been completed at Granton on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Waterfront Hospital, owned and managed by consultant plastic surgeons Awf and Omar Quaba, has been designed by award-winning NVDC Architects which has a wealth of design experience across the health, surgical and dental sectors. Following an initial search, NVDC founder Farahbod Nakhaei viewed several shortlisted properties in Edinburgh which were suitable for redevelopment, helping to appraise each for suitability, as well as potential limitations. The chosen building in Granton had originally been part of a Morrisons supermarket development but had remained empty and unutilised for over 14 years. The building offered huge potential and its development will now contribute to the wider regeneration of the area. Harnessing their previous experience in delivering private surgical facilities, the team at NVDC, led by Farahbod Nakhaei and Project Architect Anna Dach, produced the successful design as part of a competitive pitch process. A key component of the client brief, in addition to being fully Scottish Health Technical Memorandum (SHTM) compliant, the design was to include one fully SHTM compliant general anaesthesia operating suite, a second operating theatre for local anaesthesia, treatment rooms and other ancillary spaces and a generous waiting area that could be used for educational purposes. Incorporating several complex design elements, including a bespoke staircase connecting the two main floors and following the curve of the external facade, the new private hospital has just opened (4 October 2023). Farahbod Nakhaei, founder at NVDC, said: “Having delivered several projects of a similar nature we understood the complexities of adhering to rigorous SHTM guidelines and building regulations. We were able to combine our understanding and passion to create a truly amazing and uplifting space which reflects the high standards of treatment and care provided by the client. “Awf and Omar Quaba share our passion and ethos of creating spaces which promote and enhance both the physical and mental wellbeing.” The Waterfront Hospital features a cutting-edge building management system (BMS) with the ability to control and monitor the entire building environment to maintain the highest clinical standards. As well as controlling and maintaining air changes, and required pressures, the BMS also controls the entire building’s mechanical and electrical services, such as access, ventilation, heating, lighting, medical gases and power. Another key requirement of a complex building such as this is controlling access to various parts of the building. NVDC researched and specified the access control system ensuring the chosen system had the required functionality while in-keeping with the overall design of the building. The NVDC team worked extensively with M&E consultants, Charles Scott & Partners, contractor Souness and Boyne, the access control manufacturers and client’s IT team to ensure the system could provide the complex array of requirements for managing the different levels of access to various parts of building. The access control system and the BMS can each be controlled via a mobile phone app. The entire roof space has also been adapted to house necessary plant equipment. As part of their design, NVDC included a prefabricated modular rooftop plantroom which would house plant equipment in a weatherproof environment. NVDC was instrumental in the design of an energy efficient lighting system operated by movement-controlled PIR sensors. As an integral part of the building design, NVDC worked closely with lighting engineers to develop a lighting design which promotes ease of flow throughout the building. Farahbod Nakhaei continues: “Working with Awf and Omar was fantastic as from the very beginning we shared values and a common goal for this project. From the outset we were given a clear brief with aspirations and objectives. In turn, the client trusted our expertise and together we were able to create a fantastic building which will offer expert care. “We are passionate about growing our healthcare portfolio and showcasing our strengths and expertise in this sector. Most recently NVDC oversaw the completion of the Glasgow Day Surgery Centre, a registered HIS hospital. To date we have delivered over 100 design projects across the health, surgical and dental sectors.” Offering further insight into this project, Anna Dach, Project Architect at NVDC, said: “We used 3D visuals and modelling, plus mood boarding, to further refine our design throughout the various stages. It’s hugely important for us to maintain an open and honest dialogue with clients which allows for a really productive decision-making process. “Every project, site and client is unique so we start every project by listening to our client’s requirements and analysing each particular building or site to identify its strengths and potential. Following this initial appraisal stage, we combine our experience, knowledge and creativity, to develop a set of design ideas which communicate the desired look, feel and direction of the project. It’s always satisfying seeing a project come to fruition and for clients to be excited about our design.” Omar Quaba, consultant plastic surgeon, said: “We were introduced to Farahbod by a colleague who had recently completed a day surgery centre in collaboration with NVDC. The careful attention to detail was evident from the outset, with detailed plans that impressed the contractors. “From the design stage through to completion of building, Farahbod and Anna were very involved and always available to discuss any issues, including small design changes made towards the end of completion. We would not hesitate to recommend their services to others in the healthcare sector and wish them all the best with their continued expansion in this area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major milestone for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (GMMH) new flagship adult mental health inpatient unit has been reached with a topping out ceremony on Thursday 21 September marking the completion of the highest point of the build and the last piece of steel frame being fixed in place. Work commenced on the construction of North View on the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site in August 2022. The new mental health unit is the largest capital project that GMMH has undertaken. GMMH’s Deputy Chief Executive, Andrew Maloney, Chair of Manchester Foundation Trust, Kathy Cowell, NHS England’s Regional Delivery Director, Tom Myers, and Chief Executive of NMGH, Ian Lurcock, formally marked the occasion alongside representatives from GMMH’s Principal Supply Chain Partner, Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine. North View is a 150-bedroom adult unit set to provide much-needed space and modern facilities for adults with mental health needs from across Manchester. The £105m development will see the creation of a state-of-the-art inpatient unit hosting spacious single bedrooms, each with a private en-suite shower room, as well as a variety of indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, spaces for therapeutic artwork and a café. The steel frame of the construction has now been completed and work continues to clad the exterior to make the build watertight and enable the interior fittings and first-fix electrical and mechanical works to commence. Marc Reed, Associate Director of Capital, Estates & Facilities for GMMH and Project Director for North View, said: “We continue to make fantastic progress on the new unit and remain on programme for North View being complete and ready for patients in autumn 2024. The ‘topping out’ ceremony marked the installation of the final piece of steelwork in the buildings super-structure, with the development now really taking shape. “I’m really pleased to see us reach this important milestone in the project, with our fantastic new development a step closer to reality. “We are continuing to engage with communities to influence the interior design of North View and it’s exciting to see the next phases develop as construction rapidly progresses.” Andrew Maloney, GMMH’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “I was honoured to attend the topping out ceremony and see first-hand the progress that has been made on this state-of-the-art mental health inpatient unit. It is fantastic to see the building taking shape, giving an insight into the life-changing development it is going to become. “This is more than just a building – it will be a unique healthcare setting that will benefit and serve the local community for years to come. The project is close to the hearts of those involved, including service users, carers and clinicians who have supported decisions on the design of the building so that we can deliver the best possible care for patients. It’s a massive investment for our local communities and I’m looking forward to it being fully up and running.” The development is part of an exciting vision for North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. It will replace the Park House mental health unit, which currently serves as the inpatient unit for the area, and is being built in an alternative location on the hospital site. This will allow the new development to be fully constructed without disturbing current patients and the day-to-day operation of services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, has started construction work on a £42 million, 125,000 sq ft specialist lab space at an internationally significant health innovation campus. With the UK in the midst of a significant shortage of lab space to support the demand and burgeoning growth of the life sciences sector, Citylabs 4.0, located within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) Oxford Road Campus, will offer world-leading, highly specialist space specifically designed to support companies working in precision medicine, including those in diagnostics, genomics, biotech, medtech and digital health. The seven-storey development incorporates infrastructure to accommodate CL2 labs and specialist equipment, including increased floor loading, enhanced cooling systems and ventilation provisions, and a large platform lift. Businesses that locate here will also benefit from 100GB superfast connectivity, shared breakout spaces, an internally secure cycle storage with showers and kit drying room, and have access to the campus’ 150-person event space, multiple meeting rooms, cafes and supermarket. The campus, created in a joint venture partnership between Bruntwood SciTech and MFT, provides innovative life science and healthcare businesses with a unique opportunity to gain direct access and collaborate with the UK’s largest NHS Trust. As part of the support provided by the joint venture, businesses receive access to R&D and funding support, as well as opportunities including joint clinical trials, sample supply, diagnostic collaborations and medtech adoption, faster than anywhere else in the UK. They can also access the world-class talent and research capabilities of MFT, the University of Manchester, and Manchester Metropolitan University. Citylabs is surrounded by some of the UK’s most eminent teaching hospitals including the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary (with emergency helipad access), Saint Mary’s Hospital and the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and is located in the heart of the city’s Oxford Road Corridor innovation district, home to 50% of the city’s life science businesses and is Europe’s largest clinical academic campus, generating around £3bn GVA each year. The campus is also a government-designated High Potential Opportunity Zone for Diagnostics and Healthy Ageing, and a named Enterprise Zone. Sitting at the heart of the city’s health and life science cluster, it is surrounded by world-class research centres including Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Clinical Research Facility, and the Pankhurst Institute. It is also home to the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. The development of Citylabs 4.0, the third phase in the Citylabs masterplan taking the campus from 192,000 sq ft to 327,000 sq ft, will build on and enhance the existing health innovation cluster at Citylabs, which is home to more than 20 life science and healthcare businesses including global molecular diagnostics company Qiagen who opened their Global Centre of Excellence for Precision Medicine at Citylabs 2.0 in November 2021, new generation molecular diagnostics business Apis Assay Technologies, ophthalmic instrument manufacturer Takagi, and one of Europe’s largest contract research organisations MAC Clinical Research. It will also contribute to the creation of more than 300 additional high value jobs. Citylabs 4.0 is expected to achieve net zero carbon in construction and operation in its shared spaces and will be 100% electric. As a highly energy efficient building, it is targeted to be EPC A and include 208m2 of solar panels, enough to charge an average electric car approximately 1235 times. The building’s cladding system will be made from 75% recycled end-of-life aluminium (post-consumer scrap), meaning its content will have one of the smallest carbon dioxide footprints worldwide; seven times less than the global average for aluminium production. Contractor GMI Construction Group has been appointed to build the Sheppard Robson-designed development and local teams also working on the development include Arup, Hilson Moran, Gardiner and Theobald, and Layers. It is expected to open in Spring 2025. The development of Citylabs 4.0 is supported by a £42m loan from the North West Evergreen Fund, managed by CBRE’s Investment Advisory team, which is part of CBRE Capital Advisors. Dr Kath Mackay, Director of Life Sciences at Bruntwood SciTech said: “There has never been a greater opportunity for the UK and Manchester to support the life science sector as there is currently by investing in the much needed specialist lab space and infrastructure companies need to scale and collaborate. Manchester’s life science ecosystem continues to thrive and at Citylabs through our partnership with MFT we can provide businesses with direct access into the NHS and have tests and treatments adopted at a faster pace and scale here more than anywhere else, resulting in improved healthcare for the people of Manchester and wider region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National property consultancy Carter Jonas has secured planning permission on behalf of London Square Developments and NHS Property Services Ltd for the development of 125 new apartments, commercial and community uses in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The scheme will provide flexible commercial and community uses at ground floor level and 125 apartments above. The apartments will be provided in a variety of sizes including 1, 2 and 3 bedroom options and 50% will be on-site, tenure blind, affordable units. Private and communal amenity space is also included. The design of the two buildings is intended to respond to the mixed character of the surrounding area, which has low rise buildings to the north and west and emerging high-rise development to the east associated with the regeneration of the Cambridge Road Estate. The approved design is car-free with four blue badge holder spaces and London Plan compliant cycle parking facilities. The scheme is located on the site of the former Hawks Road Clinic, which had become surplus to the NHS’s requirements and was vacated in 2020. It entails the reuse of brownfield land whilst making a meaningful contribution of 63 dwellings to the Borough’s affordable housing stock. All jobs and services associated with the previous clinic use have been relocated within the Borough. Jessica McSweeney, Partner, Planning and Development, Carter Jonas commented: “We are extremely pleased to have achieved this planning permission, which follows 18 months of work alongside the Council’s planning officers, the Greater London Authority, neighbouring landowners, the community, the Design Review Panel and other statutory consultees. The scheme will bring much needed housing, including a substantial proportion of affordable housing, to the Borough.” In achieving planning success, Carter Jonas worked alongside Fuse Architects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Daniel May of Consort reviews the integration of access control systems in healthcare settings, outlining the benefits and key considerations decision makers must make throughout product specification. From patient safety and traversal to the protection of sensitive data and pharmaceuticals, today’s healthcare environments are faced with several operational challenges. And where security remains at the forefront of decision making, modern access control systems may often hold the answers. Hospitals in particular have developed into multi-faceted spaces that house hundreds to thousands of patients, staff and visitors at any one time. In England for example, research has found in the three months leading to June 2023, an average of 44,626 people visited major hospital A&E departments each day, with over 16 million attendances typically recorded over the course of a year – not to mention an additional 9 million logged at other minor units. For any building, this level of sustained footfall can invite severe security tests. With that, the need to deploy effective physical security systems in healthcare is clear. And so, as access control continues to become more readily adopted and new products enter the market, decision makers are reminded to consider the requirements of their building, ensuring they select the solutions most suited to their settings and budget. Security controlled Patient safety will always remain top priority in healthcare settings, and where matters of health and social care come into question, a diverse set of professional regulatory bodies are tasked with setting and maintaining high standards. When it comes to healthcare premises specifically, patient security and perimeter security often come hand in hand and are amongst the most pressing of challenges that decision makers must face. To help address operational planning and potential design concerns in the NHS, the Health Building Note (HBN), provides general design guidance for healthcare buildings under HBN 00-01 – citing the use of access control measures as a way of maintaining security and protecting the safety of patients, staff and visitors. Hospital buildings for example, must control varied levels of access for a number of operational and security purposes. Routine scenarios exist where vulnerable patients are under monitoring and thus refrained from exiting the premises for their own safety, while at the same time, permitted staff must be able to reach their patients and medicines when required. For this, the use of access control is key. Equally, access credentials can also help management teams keep track of those who may be entering or exiting rooms with equipment and pharmaceutical supplies, deterring any unwanted visitors and opportunists in the process. On a similar note, regulations have set a minimum standard for how personal data should be stored and managed in healthcare environments, giving decision makers an added responsibility to regulate staff-controlled areas with patient medical records. While instances of personal data breaches are rare, healthcare facilities and professionals are at legal risk should confidential data be found misused or missing. As such, the incorporation of access control systems has become essential in keeping data storage areas secure, with intuitive online systems capable of permitting access to staff with the correct credentials while simultaneously tracking who has requested clearance at digital entry points. To function effectively, healthcare facilities must always be perceived as a safe place by the people who reside within them. Besides, efficient residential management systems also play a crucial role in ensuring organized care within these specialized environments like group homes for people with developmental disabilities. Such systems integrate various features, including patient monitoring and access control, simplifying the complex web of responsibilities faced by care providers. To function effectively, healthcare facilities must always be perceived as a safe place by the people who reside within them. Besides, efficient residential management systems also play a crucial role in ensuring organized care within these specialized environments like group homes for people with developmental disabilities. Such systems integrate various features, including patient monitoring and access control, simplifying the complex web of responsibilities faced by care providers and as HBN guidance implies, a unified physical security system can help address key safety and security concerns while enhancing patient and staff experience. Opportunely, today’s access control systems are more accessible and adaptable than ever and combine several technologies such as mechanical locks and automatic doors with electronic access credentials in the form of smartphone apps, badge readers and biometric scanners. By integrating these systems into the building’s existing infrastructure, healthcare professionals are better equipped to control the sheer volume of people entering and exiting the premises without impairing the general flow of movement and coordination around the facility. Better by design Despite the clear benefits offered to healthcare facilities, there are a number of considerations to be mindful of when choosing an access control solution. Poorly implemented systems can have an adverse effect on security and functionality – quickly costing healthcare organisations time and budget to rectify and replace the inadequate products that don’t meet the building’s requirements. For that reason, decision makers and design teams are reminded that there is no single solution that fits all healthcare buildings. As such, it’s crucial for decision makers to understand the systems that are being put in place throughout each of the touchpoints in their facility. Clear collaboration is required during periods of specification, where together, teams can ensure the selected product works on all angles, from meeting fire safety and sustainability standards to aesthetics and scalability. Frequently overlooked, scalability is a key area that decision makers must review when selecting access control systems. Such is their diverse nature; healthcare facilities can often change and develop as years go by, and by selecting a system that facilitates growth – such as a cloud-based solution – security and efficiency is long-established. While modern access control products are known for seamless integration, there are some systems that may restrict the ability to use different vendors throughout the remainder of the building’s infrastructure. This, in effect, causes a monopolisation of products throughout the estate, which can have an adverse effect
Willmott Dixon has announced the start of construction work on two new state-of-the-art specialist healthcare facilities, developed by Prime plc in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). Situated on plot 2 of the Adanac Health and Innovation Campus in Southampton, the new multi-use facility, which is being funded by Macquarie Asset Management on behalf of the retirement specialist, Just Group plc, will comprise an Aseptic Pharmacy and Sterile Services Department (SSD), with further flexible expansion space. The Aseptic Pharmacy will act as an MHRA-licensed pharmacy, with sterile medicines manufactured for UHS and other NHS providers in the region. Meanwhile, the SSD will sterilise surgical tools and equipment for use by UHS; these services will be delivered at the new location by strategic provider IHSS. UHS is one of the largest acute teaching trusts in England and experiences a very high demand on its geographically constrained site. By working with Prime, through the Southampton Commercial Estates Development Partnership (CEDP), the Trust has been able to unlock a number of complex estate challenges. These new facilities will be the latest in a series of developments designed to create more space for the Trust to expand. Previous development on the hospital site has produced a new entrance, retail space and staff car park. The partners then worked together to create Adanac Health and Innovation Campus, providing additional expansion space with good proximity to the hospital and easy access to the motorway network. To date, a multi-storey park and ride car park serving the hospital and Costa Coffee have been delivered at the new campus, and a remaining 3 plots are still to be developed. This is the latest scheme between Willmott Dixon and Prime. In 2022, the two delivered a 600+ space multi-storey car park at Dorset County Hospital, creating valuable parking provision for the Trust’s staff, patients and visitors, while also freeing up space so the Trust can extend its Emergency Department and Critical Care unit. It also further underlines Willmott Dixon’s role as one of the UK’s largest constructors of healthcare space. Notable projects include Bolton College of Medical Sciences, a ‘first of its kind’ facility that’s a blueprint for training NHS staff across the country, plus the Pears Building – Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, a world-leading research centre at the Royal Free Hospital. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
