Skanska confirmed as construction partner for two major East of England hospitals

The contracts signed today confirm the partnerships for both schemes and mark the start of the next phase of the government’s New Hospital Programme, ahead of main construction works expected later in the decade.

Lee Marks, Executive Vice President at Skanska UK, said: "This is a significant milestone for the New Hospital Programme and a tremendous opportunity to help transform healthcare provision across Norfolk. We are proud to be partnering with James Paget University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital to help deliver their long-term vision. Delivering both hospitals as part of a single programme creates opportunities to share learning, drive consistency and support efficient delivery, while maintaining a relentless focus on quality, safety and patient outcomes.

"Hospitals are at the heart of the communities they serve, providing essential care every day. Skanska has a strong track record of delivering complex healthcare projects that create lasting value for patients, staff and local communities. We look forward to bringing that experience to Norfolk and helping deliver modern, sustainable, digitally enabled healthcare facilities that will support patients and healthcare professionals for decades to come."

During this next phase, Skanska’s engineers and construction experts will work closely with both NHS Trusts to develop comprehensive plans as the designs for the hospitals are finalised. This collaborative approach will help ensure the schemes are fully prepared for delivery, with a strong focus on buildability, efficiency, sustainability and minimising disruption for hospital staff, patients and local communities.

Jo Segasby, Deputy Group Chief Executive and Chief Delivery Officer, said: “This is a significant milestone for our programme. The announcement that our two hospitals will be built by one contractor, Skanska UK, means our focus on delivering two state-of-the-art hospitals for Norfolk, carefully planned to meet the needs of their populations, is ever closer.

“One contractor for both schemes will strengthen oversight, ensure consistency in clinical design and service planning across the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, and will help deliver both hospitals more efficiently - ultimately delivering the highest standards of patient care and experience.”

The New Hospital Programme is a government initiative designed to strengthen the delivery of new healthcare estates through standardised design, digital innovation and modular construction, driving greater certainty, productivity and quality. Ten construction partners have been appointed to deliver the 11 projects during wave 1 of the scheme, with Skanska selected for two hospitals.

James Davies, Divisional Director at Skanska and leading the New Hospital Programme work, said: “This next phase is all about turning the shared ambition for these two hospitals into robust, deliverable construction plans that will set the programme up for success. As designs are finalised, we look forward to working closely with both James Paget and Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s to strengthen partnerships and build strong construction relationships across the supply chain as we move towards construction.

“By bringing teams together early, we can plan the works in detail, share expertise and create the right foundations for safe, efficient delivery. This is a key step on the journey to seeing cranes in the sky and, ultimately, delivering two modern hospitals that will serve their communities for generations to come.”

Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health, said: For too long, the construction of new hospitals has been bogged down by bureaucratic procurement processes, even after full approval and funding was in place, and we're determined to change that. The changes announced today are a major step forward in streamlining the procurement process. With stronger collaboration, shared learning and a boost for jobs, this further demonstrates this government’s commitment to the New Hospital Programme, providing world class facilities for the NHS, and helping the economy in the process.