New Hospital Programme implementation plan welcomed
We are pleased to receive clarity on the future of the NHS New Hospital Programme (NHP), with details announced on a revised implementation plan for delivery.
The programme’s existing schemes have been prioritised into 5-year ‘waves’ of investment. To date, we have proudly made progress in the delivery of three of the seven ‘Wave 0’ schemes, all of which are either partly complete or under construction. These are the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit in Dorset, the St Ann’s Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Facility in Dorset, and the CEDAR Mental Health Facility Programme in Northumberland.
Currently under construction, our 8-bed Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Intensive Care Facility for Dorset HealthCare takes advantage of its elevated woodland site to create a safe and therapeutic space for the recovery of a vulnerable patient group.
A major milestone in the latter saw the completion of Sycamore, a medium secure mental health facility, which will enable the subsequent phases of the CEDAR programme to be completed. Developed around the concept of a ‘village campus’, the building provides a wide variety of indoor and outdoor settings for relaxation and activity, ensuring a meaningful day for patients. The scheme was awarded Best Healthcare Development (£25m – £75m) at the 2024 Building Better Healthcare Awards.
Sycamore provides a choice of open or private spaces for activity and wellbeing, to ensure access to outside space for patients is inclusive.
The recreation courtyard is separated into a ‘passive zone’ for rest and refuge, and an ‘active zone’ for activity and fitness.
We are extremely encouraged to see that our two remaining NHP schemes, that had been waiting for the certainty to proceed, have now been prioritised in ‘Wave 1’ of the programme, with a timeline to begin construction before 2028. These are Shotley Bridge Community Hospital in County Durham, and North Manchester General Hospital (designed by Sheppard Robson in collaboration with Medical Architecture).
Employing a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital is designed to provide opportunities for patients and staff to connect with nature.
The redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital comprises a phased programme of work to replace significant amounts of its existing, aging estate, while services remain operational. Designed by Sheppard Robson in collaboration with Medical Architecture.
We welcome the certainty that the review brings to the programme, and we are well placed to incorporate the ‘Hospital 2.0’ approach to standardisation, as outlined in the review’s recommendations, to ensure that sustainable and modern methods of construction can accelerate the building process. We look forward to seeing these important schemes delivered, with their focus on technologically advanced and patient-focused environments that will deliver long term value to the NHS estate.
We are experienced in designing with standardisation for flexibility, adaptability, and the use of modern methods of construction. Plan shown is from the redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital, designed by Sheppard Robson in collaboration with Medical Architecture.
Proposals for a large district general hospital, developed with White Arkitekter, using the NHS Hospital 2.0 methodology.