The development of a new adults’ hospital, along with a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital, is set to be one of the most significant healthcare projects in the UK.

DSM Demolition is presently clearing parts of the Leeds General Infirmary to make way for the two separate but co-located hospitals.

The NHS Trust is now planning to commence construction in 2023, a delay on the 2022 start date previously planned.

This will enable it to align with the Government’s New Hospital Programme and benefit from the collaborative approach of working at scale, allowing the Trust to share experience with other less developed schemes, in areas such as digital technology, sustainability and modern methods of construction.

The new design concepts take the new hospital development to the next stage but will still need detailed design development and will be used as the basis for further engagement over the next 12-18 months as the final design is agreed.

Andrew Smith, head of healthcare at BDP, adds: “By applying our experience in designing the best healthcare facilities around the globe we are delivering a healthy and thoughtful hospital design for Leeds that looks to the future of best practice and innovation.

The Hospitals of the Future project is part of the government’s commitment to build 40 hospitals by 2030, backed by an initial £3.7bn.