HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
Work begins on Devon Partnership NHS research facility
Construction work has commenced on a new state- of-the-art research facility at Devon Partnership NHS Trust’s Wonford House site in Exeter. Part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the facility is being delivered by Vanguard Healthcare Solutions using modern modular construction methods, enabling a faster and more efficient build programme while maintaining the highest standards of quality and sustainability. Representatives from Devon
Partnership NHS Trust and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions marked the start of on-site groundworks, with construction of the building modules taking place simultaneously at Vanguard’s manufacturing facility. Located on the Wonford House site in Exeter, the dedicated research centre will support the delivery of clinical research studies across a broad range of specialties, including mental health, dementia, children, and adolescent mental health services, and physical health conditions experienced by people living with mental illness. The facility forms part of the Trust’s
NHS Open Space unlocks hidden estate capacity
NHS Property Services’ flexible space management solution NHS Open Space has generated data from 8,000 utilisation sensors installed across the NHS estate.
Utilisation data from 6,000
wider strategy to increase research participation and address inequalities in access to clinical trials. Research undertaken through the NHS England Research Engagement Network Development project identified lower participation in research among people with mental health conditions compared with those with physical health conditions, as well as lower participation among men, younger people, and people living in more deprived and rural communities. The facility will include:
n A dedicated laboratory and clinical trials pharmacy designed to support the secure storage and preparation of investigational medicinal products and biological samples.
n A physical health assessment and infusion room equipped to support a broad range of clinical research studies.
n Specially designed therapy rooms, including a group therapy space, suitable for mental health, dementia and psychedelic research programmes.
Andy Willis, chair of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, said: “This is a great opportunity for a new build. We’ve been building things at Wonford and within the Trust for the last few years and this is another step forward. It’s a great opportunity to do something with the University of Exeter as well, in terms of the intellectual development of the organisation.”
New CDC opens at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping
Morgan Sindall Construction has delivered a new Community Diagnostic Centre at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping. Procured under the ProCure 23
(P23) framework for the design and construction of NHS capital projects, the new £26m CDC will provide quicker access to diagnostic tests. The new facility was officially opened by Cllr Janet Whitehouse, Mayor of Epping. Guests at the ceremony included MPs, councillors, and GPs, as well as
representatives from NHS England, Morgan Sindall, the project team, and wider stakeholders.
Construction work is continuing on a £6m extension to the CDC which is due to be completed in early 2027. This further development will accommodate the fibro scanner to check for liver inflammation, an additional ultrasound, X-ray, and space for trans-nasal endoscopy. To create the CDC, Morgan Sindall
refurbished and added an extension to a bungalow on the St Margaret’s Hospital site. The building now houses outpatient services as well as the capacity to provide MRI scans, X-rays, and non-obstetric (non-pregnancy) ultrasounds. As part of its
Intelligent Solutions approach to sustainable construction,
Morgan Sindall utilised the digital carbon analysis tool CarboniCa during the project. This informed carbon-related decisions throughout the design and construction phases to minimise the development’s emissions. Ryan Liversage, area director
for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said: “Celebrating the new St Margaret’s Community Diagnostic Centre officially opening its doors is an exciting moment, as we know this facility will bring a wide range of crucial healthcare benefits right to the doorstep of the community. “Combining our team’s extensive experience delivering in medical environments with a close, collaborative relationship with The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has been central to the project’s success. This has allowed us to create a facility that is tailored to the multifaceted needs of the Trust, its patients, and the local area.”
rooms across more than 400 properties has highlighted opportunities to make NHS buildings more flexible and efficient, freeing up space for services. NHS Open Space gives organisations the insight, tools, and expert support to identify capacity, making spaces bookable, improving utilisation, and supporting better access to services for patients. Across the NHS estate, NHS Open Space has doubled utilisation since 2020 by making vacant and underused space flexible and bookable. NHS Open Space also connects NHS landlords with a network of more than 8,000 pre-vetted healthcare provider professionals, supporting more than 800,000 bookings across over 170 service types and enabling more than 11 million patient consultations. The initiative has helped NHS
organisations avoid £4m in unnecessary spend by identifying capacity within existing buildings. Chris King, head of NHS Open Space at NHS Property Services, said: “NHS Open Space is about helping the NHS get more from the buildings it already has. By giving estates leaders clearer insight into how space is being used, alongside the tools to manage it more flexibly, we can support our NHS colleagues to reduce waste, unlock capacity and deliver more services for patients in the right places.”
August 2026 Health Estate Journal 29
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