Plans for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) took a big step forward today with Government approval for the next stage of the business process, and the appointment of a preferred construction partner.
NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and HM Treasury approved the second stage of the outline business case for the hospital set to be the first delivered in the East of England as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
Newly appointed international construction firm, Laing O’Rourke, will help finalise designs to make the new seven-story hospital a champion of sustainability and innovation, helping the NHS deliver a net zero health service.
This is a huge milestone in our plans to create a new specialist cancer research hospital that will deliver hope and better outcomes for millions of people across the globe. We have a unique chance to transform patient care through patient-led design alongside ground-breaking research. By bringing scientists into the heart of new clinical and hospital spaces, we will ignite cutting-edge discoveries which will ultimately make a massive difference to the care we give our patients and their quality of life.
Dr Hugo Ford, Clinical Lead for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and Director of Cancer Services at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Changing the story of cancer
The new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital will change the story of cancer. It will bring together clinical and research expertise in a new world-class hospital for the East of England to detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.
It is being built on Europe’s leading life sciences campus, the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The project is a partnership between Cambridge University Hospitals, the University of Cambridge and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre.
Professor Richard Gilbertson, Research Lead for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and Head of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Oncology, said:
"This is an exciting step in our journey to eradicate cancer. The opportunity for clinicians and researchers to collaborate with our industry partners to detect the earliest signs of cancer and deliver personalised treatments is a real game-changer.
"The innovations that will be coming out of this building will have a huge impact, not just here in Cambridge, but across the region, the UK and the world."
Designed in partnership with patients and staff, CCRH will seek to be a low carbon and electric powered facility, ensuring maximum natural light and access to outdoor spaces, helping the NHS deliver a net zero health service.
It will bring together NHS staff from Addenbrooke’s and researchers from the University of Cambridge and its Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre under one roof.
This facility is set to be the first hospital delivered in the East of England as part of our New Hospital Programme and demonstrates our continued commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, backed by an expected £20 billion
Health Minister, Lord Markham.
Lord Markham continued:
“The proposed new seven-story specialist building will foster collaboration between hospital staff and researchers to help secure ground-breaking discoveries and encourage cutting-edge treatments for patients across the entire region."
Laing O’Rourke has built 18 major hospitals since 2010, delivering world-class facilities for clinical staff and patients, including specialist cancer care facilities. Most recently they delivered the Louisa Martindale Building in Brighton, the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital, the Grange University Hospital in Wales, as well as the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool, and before that the Cancer Centre at Guy’s & St Thomas in London.
John Spicer, Project Director for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Laing O’Rourke, who have an excellent record of building hospitals and major investment schemes with a focus on quality and sustainability across the country.
“We are partnering with them to develop our construction plans and to help bring innovation and unique expertise in modern methods of construction to the project, which will play an important role with our plans to build the East of England’s new cancer research hospital.”
The state-of-the-art facility has been designed by architects NBBJ and engineers AECOM who will also support with construction project and cost management.
Rory Pollock, healthcare sector leader from Laing O’Rourke, said:
“We’re thrilled to have been appointed as the preferred construction partner for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and to be working with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
"We’ve worked collaboratively with the design team NBBJ and AECOM on a number of healthcare projects over the past decade and our team will bring industry-leading knowledge to support the next stage of their design development journey.
“We will maximise the use of modern methods of construction to bring real benefits in terms of programme and cost certainty. We also understand that a hospital’s identity is paramount and will support the development of the non-clinical, public realm spaces to maximise the patient and staff experiences.”
Work has now begun on the project’s Full Business Case, which will finalise the plans for the new facility.
A full planning application for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital was submitted to Cambridge City Council in January and a decision is expected later this year. Construction works for the new hospital are due to start in 2024.
About Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital
The new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital will change the story of cancer. It will bring together clinical and research expertise in a new-world class hospital for the East of England to detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.
The new cancer hospital is being built on Europe’s leading life sciences campus, the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The project is a partnership between Cambridge University Hospitals, the University of Cambridge and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. Designed by architects NBBJ and engineers AECOM, in collaboration with staff and patients, construction is expected to start in 2024.
Laing O’Rourke were selected following a competitive process using Crown Commercial Service’s Construction Works and Associated Services 2 (CWAS2) framework, a collaboration with NHS England that includes ProCure 23 (P23). The P23 route has successfully delivered more than 1,200 projects across England.
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office, supporting the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Matt Allen as its New Hospital Construction Director to manage the build of Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, having led the construction of the University of Cambridge £300m Ray Dolby Centre/ Cavendish III physics laboratory.
To find out more about Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital please contact jessica.foster19@nhs.net or rosie.dean7@nhs.net
About the New Hospital Programme
The New Hospital Programme is the biggest hospital building programme in a generation, creating world-class health facilities through innovation and collaboration.
Replacing outdated infrastructure with modern, innovation and environmentally sustainable buildings, the programme will lay the foundation for intelligent systems, driving innovation and investment in new diagnostics to provide top-class healthcare services and facilities for patients, staff, and local communities.
The New Hospital Programme is a joint venture between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.
Working with NHS Trusts, Government, and industry, the programme’s mission is to:
- Help NHS Trusts to provide high-quality, sustainable care for patients.
- Deliver intelligent hospitals.
- Develop national capability.
- Build better, build faster, and build a sustainable legacy.