ENERGY
Key internal spaces include a ground-floor entrance and stairwell, workshop and joiners’ areas, stores, a dedicated boiler hall, electrical switch room, substation, sanitary accommodation, and office spaces. Externally, the project includes new roadways, kerbs, paving, and surface water drainage to tie the facility seamlessly into the existing campus infrastructure. Despite the site’s constraints, the layout has been carefully planned to allow safe access for maintenance vehicles and future equipment replacement. The design has been developed using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to coordinate architectural, structural, and MEP elements. This digital approach enables precision fabrication, reduces waste, and minimises rework on site, key considerations in a healthcare setting where reliability is critical. In addition to delivering low operational carbon, the building itself is being constructed using materials with lower embodied carbon content wherever feasible, supporting the Trust’s wider sustainability goals.
The team has implemented strict segregation of public and contractor zones.
We developed a detailed phased logistics plan, supported by robust traffic management, delivery scheduling, and stakeholder communication. The site compound is intentionally compact, reflecting the need to balance safety and efficiency within limited boundaries. Every vehicle movement, material delivery, and lifting operation has been coordinated with hospital facilities teams to avoid conflict with daily hospital activities.
Health and safety protocols are paramount. The
Alastair Dickinson
Alastair Dickinson is marketing manager for 7formation, a pioneering main contractor operating across both public and private sector construction projects. Alastair’s work focuses on elevating the 7formation brand and leading their ambitious growth plans over the coming years, through building strong industry relationships at all levels and diversifying the company’s portfolio of clients. With an annual turnover of £60m and nearly 200 projects delivered last year, Alastair focuses on showcasing quality, capability, and trusted delivery.
team has implemented strict segregation of public and contractor zones, infection prevention measures, and noise and dust control systems to ensure patient wellbeing. Close liaison with hospital management has also enabled flexible working hours when required – for example, scheduling higher-noise activities outside peak times.
Technical delivery and design detail Our role as main contractor encompasses both the shell and core construction and complete internal fit-out of the new Energy Centre. The design integrates modern building fabric standards with robust engineering systems to deliver high performance, ease of maintenance, and long-term value.
Embedding sustainability and social value The Energy Centre is not only a key step in reducing the hospital’s environmental footprint; it also delivers measurable social value for the local community. We have embedded a range of initiatives into our
delivery plan, ensuring the project’s benefits extend well beyond the construction boundary. These include: n Appointment of a full-time, site-based apprentice from Scunthorpe, providing local employment and hands-on training in construction and building services.
n Donation of 200 tree saplings to local community planting projects, supporting biodiversity and improving the town’s natural environment.
n Financial donations to local charities and Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs).
These commitments form part of our wider pledge to generate long-term value through sustainable procurement and community engagement. By investing locally, the company ensures the project leaves a lasting, positive legacy for Scunthorpe residents. By reinvesting in the community throughout the duration
of the project, we can cement a positive legacy from this project that can be felt around the area. From upskilling the local workforce to supporting key community charities, we hope to leave a positive effect far past project completion.
Once the project has been completed, the Energy Centre will reduce the Trust’s carbon emissions, improve operational efficiency, and support the long- term sustainability of healthcare provision across Lincolnshire.
58 Health Estate Journal March 2026
Overcoming challenges through collaboration Working within an operational hospital and a constrained footprint demands a collaborative, solutions-led approach. From the outset, we worked closely with the Trust’s estates and facilities teams to align construction activities with hospital operations. Through regular progress meetings and shared planning tools, potential conflicts were identified early and resolved before affecting day-to-day hospital functions. The use of modular and off-site prefabrication methods for selected components helped reduce disruption, improve safety, and enhance build quality. The project team also implemented an environmental management plan to address noise, vibration, and dust, particularly important given the proximity of residential housing. Real-time monitoring ensures compliance with environmental thresholds, while transparent communication with neighbours maintains community confidence. This collaborative ethos extends to all members of
the delivery chain, with subcontractors and suppliers engaged in sustainability workshops to ensure every
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