CONSTRUCTION
where quality control processes are deeply embedded. The aim is for approximately 80–90 percent of construction to be completed at this stage, including structural assembly, internal partitions, M&E installations, clinical fit out, fixtures and fittings, and specialist systems such as medical gases or ventilation plant. With standardised production lines and clearly defined
Simon Squirrell
With over 20 years’ experience of working collaboratively with healthcare providers, Simon is Vanguard’s UK business director, responsible for Vanguard’s mobile and modular solutions across surgical, endoscopy and sterile services. Simon focuses on developing strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and ensuring Vanguard’s flexible clinical infrastructure solutions meet the complex operational needs of modern healthcare systems. Throughout his career, Simon has supported the delivery of numerous facilities, including the installation – in less than ten weeks – of four theatres, two wards, and an endoscopy complex at Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
operating procedures, the factory environment supports continuous improvement, efficient material usage, and consistent output. This contrasts with traditional building sites where weather, subcontractor availability, and sequencing constraints can introduce variability. For estates teams responsible for clinical compliance, the predictability of factory manufacturing is a significant advantage.
Construction logistics While the building of the modules is underway in the factory, there is also focus on the construction logistics onsite. Precision matters here, too – modules built to a two millimetre tolerance require foundations and structural interfaces which are designed and executed with comparable accuracy.
It is a complicated and complex process and collaboration between modular manufacturers, groundwork contractors, and hospital estates teams is crucial to ensure successful installation. There is much to think about. Transport routes must be planned, cranage capacity assessed, lifting configurations defined, and storage areas prepared. Utilities and service connections need to be verified and tested. And it is essential that, throughout, public safety and patient accessibility are safeguarded at all times. The legal framework for modular construction differs
from traditional procurement models, especially regarding ownership and transfer of risk, which may occur while modules are still in the manufacturing facility. Quality control processes also require contractual
clarity to ensure inspections can take place within the factory. This is why we encourage clients to visit our Hull factory during production to assess progress firsthand and verify compliance – giving estates teams greater visibility and assurance throughout the build.
CSSD module fitted with equipment before delivery to site.
Practical questions Practical questions come up when estates teams evaluate volumetric construction. Fire safety is paramount, and modular buildings are designed in accordance with all relevant fire legislation, with fire resistance engineered into both individual modules and the completed building structure.
Fire safety is paramount, and modular buildings are designed in accordance with all relevant fire legislation, with fire resistance engineered into both individual modules and the completed building structure.
Any concerns around acoustic and thermal transfer are addressed through the design of modules that bear only on their corners, limiting contact between adjoining units and enhancing performance. Some teams ask whether fixtures and finishes can be customised – the answer is ‘yes’. Modules are designed in consultation with clinical teams to make sure that the finished spaces meet operational needs. Others ask whether modular buildings settle after installation. They do not, because the primary structural material is hot rolled steel that maintains its integrity throughout the building’s lifespan. And another, and often decisive, question concerns speed. Just how quickly can a modular building be on site and operational? A development of 100 pre-built modules can be assembled within weeks, not months, giving estates leaders a rapid route to increasing capacity with minimal risk.
Delivering improvements at pace As the NHS looks to expand sustainably, improve patient flow, and modernise outdated infrastructure, high PMV volumetric modular construction offers a way to deliver estate improvements at the pace clinical services now demand.
It reduces disruption, enhances quality, improves safety,
accelerates delivery, and lowers environmental impact – all while ensuring compliance with the rigorous standards expected of healthcare buildings. Modern methods of construction are often described as an alternative to traditional building, but for many healthcare applications they are not merely an alternative but a superior and more aligned approach. They support the NHS’ need for resilience and flexibility while delivering facilities that meet the technical and clinical requirements of modern medicine. For estates teams working in an environment of rising demand, complex regulatory pressures and limited downtime for major redevelopment, volumetric construction represents a fundamental shift in what is possible. As demonstrated by projects across the UK and internationally, high PMV modular buildings are already providing the certainty, quality, and speed that healthcare providers urgently need. In the years ahead, as pressures on clinical capacity continue to grow, this approach will play an increasingly central role in enabling the NHS to expand safely, sustainably, and strategically, ensuring that patients benefit from modern clinical facilities delivered at the pace and precision healthcare requires.
56 Health Estate Journal May 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
