INVESTMENT AND DESIGN


How healthcare estates power regional growth


Across the UK, nearly three million adults are currently out of work due to ill health. This is not just a public health concern but threatens to undermine regional economic growth, says Terry Stocks, director of Property and Healthcare lead UK&I at AtkinsRéalis. He explains how strategic investment in healthcare estates can improve wellbeing, regenerate communities, and drive long-term prosperity.


Right: The decline of UK high streets is a visible symptom of deeper social and economic challenges.


The productivity loss alone costs the UK economy an estimated £264 bn annually, impacting national output by as much as 10 per cent. But behind these numbers are real people, real communities, and real opportunities for change. If we are to reverse this trend, we must rethink how we deliver healthcare not just as a service, but as a strategic investment in regional growth. The buildings within our healthcare estates including our hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, and community health hubs, are more than bricks and mortar. They are the physical infrastructure of health and wellbeing. When designed and deployed strategically, they can become powerful engines for economic regeneration, social cohesion, and improved public health.


Below right: Locating health facilities in community settings, such as underused retail spaces, could help revitalise communities. Below: Healthcare estates offer a compelling proposition for investors.


The economic case for health infrastructure The NHS’s 10 year plan sets out a transformative vision: shifting care from hospitals to communities, moving from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, and embracing digital innovation. These goals may be ambitious, but they are also achievable if we invest in the right infrastructure. Healthcare estates are central to this transformation.


Community-based facilities reduce pressure on hospitals, improve access to care, and support early intervention but their impact goes far beyond clinical outcomes. They create jobs, stimulate local economies, and attract further investment. According to the NHS Confederation, every £1 invested per head in the NHS returns at least £14 in


regional and national growth. This multiplier effect is not simply theoretical, it can be seen on the ground in projects like the Gateshead Metrocentre Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), delivered by AtkinsRéalis, where we turned a liability into an asset.


Rethinking vacant spaces Located in a vacant House of Fraser retail space, the CDC has provided over 43,000 diagnostic appointments since opening, created 134 jobs, and increased footfall in the Metrocentre by 3%, which is equivalent to 65,000 additional visitors. With excellent transport links and free parking, the CDC is accessible and welcoming. Its success demonstrates how healthcare can be a cornerstone of placemaking. By making healthcare facilities like these more


116 Health Estate Journal October 2025


AdobeStock / Josh Snow


AdobeStock / Stephen Davies


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