Bidding opens for next phase of national capital programme

Eight building schemes will be part of the 48 newly built or rebuilt units promised by the government by 2030 under its New Hospital Programme (NHP). The overall programme includes eight schemes already under construction, six that are due to be completed by 2025, and the balance completed by the end of the decade. There are concerns that the early schemes could face delays due to Covid and lack of capacity in the construction market, though a recent market engagement notice highlighted the prospect of using modular construction to speed up the process.

Last October, the prime minister named 32 schemes that would be part of the NHP, in addition to the eight already under construction. This was backed with an initial £3.7bn of capital funding up to 2025.

Today, the Department of Health and Social Care launched the bidding for the final eight projects. Though the competition is open to all trusts, the Department has placed an emphasis on bids from mental health trusts. Bids are invited by September, with a more detailed second stage to follow for trusts placed on a long list. A final decision is expected in spring next year.

The Department said it would prioritise plans that:

•           Transform joined up care and provide an effective working environment for staff, in line with the NHS long-term plan ambitions

•           Ensure fair allocations of investment to level up across regions and provide value for money, with an emphasis on mental health trusts

•           Produce more environmentally sustainable NHS buildings, which make the most of modern methods of construction to support sustainable, greener and efficient design.

Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) said the building plan would help transform NHS services for local communities. ‘The selection process for the further eight new schemes is a huge opportunity for more areas to benefit from the biggest hospital building programme in a generation, and I encourage trusts to apply,’ he added.

‘We will take forward the bold and ambitious plans to improve care, level up investment and prioritise sustainable design.’

NHS Providers deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said there is an urgent need to replace and refurbish much of the NHS estate ‘so this announcement could not have come soon enough’.

She added: ‘We particularly welcome the emphasis on mental health and community trusts. This commitment will help tackle years of underinvestment in the mental health estate in particular, which we know is having a real impact on trusts’ ability to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment.’

But she believed the government must go further in committing capital funding.

’We are calling on the government to commit to an appropriate multi-year capital settlement for the NHS as part of the comprehensive spending review. This is essential to ensure the infrastructure requirements of all trusts can be met, including the need to tackle the growing maintenance backlog.

‘Long-term investment is central not just to the delivery of safe and effective care, but to realising efficiency gains, transforming services, enhancing digital capabilities and supporting the NHS net zero ambitions.’

The Department has said it will ‘refresh’ the overarching Health Infrastructure Plan, which includes the NHP, later this year, and has also launched a website – Our NHS buildings – that aims to track the progress of development plans.