Transforming cancer care and day case surgery in the capital
THE ASPIRATION
Revolutionising the client’s estate
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) needed to secure funding for Phase 4 of its strategic redevelopment programme. This phase included a pioneering Proton Beam Therapy Centre, alongside new haematology inpatient wards, critical care and surgical facilities. As one of only two NHS hospitals in the UK set to deliver proton beam cancer treatment—and the future home of Europe’s largest blood disorder centre—the project demanded highly complex costing and programming to bring it to life.
OUR RESPONSE
Innovative Project and Cost Management
Our Cost Managers and Building Services Engineers were brought in to develop a comprehensive cost plan, assessing the project’s affordability and identifying the most cost-effective solutions. From feasibility assessments to conducting a 60-year lifecycle cost analysis, our work shaped the programme and informed both the Outline and Full Business Cases. This helped to secure vital investment funding from the Department of Health to fund much of the scheme. We supported every stage of the £350 million programme, including the decanting of existing NHS buildings, mechanical and electrical service diversions, site decommissioning and clearance, demolition, construction and commissioning.
THE RESULT
Setting new standards in healthcare design
Completed in 2022, the centre spans 13 storeys—six of them below ground, reaching a depth of 32metres. The basement houses a state-of-the-art proton beam therapy facility, including four treatment rooms with gantries and a particle accelerator. Above this are eight operating theatres(four with laminar flow ventilation) a short-stay surgical ward, MRI and CT scanners, and a clinical care unit. The upper floors provide world-class haematology inpatient care for both NHS and private patients.
THE LASTING IMPACT
Supporting people and the planet
The Proton Beam Therapy Centre treats around 650 patients annually for a wide range of complex cancers with highly targeted therapy that minimises radiation damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The co-located haematology ward supports approximately 3,500 NHS patients each year, who typically stay for six weeks as part of their highly specialist inpatient care. The building is designed with sustainability at its core, achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. It incorporates eco-friendly features such as a combined heat and power plant, solar panels, a high-performance façade and efficient energy systems.
Find out more about our multidisciplinary approach.
