CARBON REDUCTION AND NET ZERO
Wards 30,000sqm highest level daylight and views
Podium 40,000sqm middle levels hot clinical area
Car park 55,000sqm lowest level
Landscape
Drawings to show how the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, designed by HKS, Cagni Williams, and Sonnemann Toon Architects, was placed on the site in order to benefit from passive solar design.
In the private sector, green finance models are evolving
too, from corporate sustainability-linked bonds to private PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) and on-site renewable leasing – allowing providers to transition without upfront capital costs. Private healthcare facilities do have the possibility to find financial funding through Government grants for energy reduction projects, and institutional/ private investment.
Rethinking the role of architects: from designers to strategic advisors In the past, architects were primarily seen as designers tasked with creating aesthetically pleasing and functional buildings. Today, however, architects play a much broader, more strategic role, particularly within healthcare and public sector institutions like the NHS. Architects specialising in sustainable design and Net Zero Carbon strategies have become invaluable advisors in the healthcare sector, offering critical insights into how carbon emissions can be reduced, energy efficiency can be improved, and operational costs can be lowered over the long term. Cagni Williams Associates (CWA) embraces
wholeheartedly this expanded role. The firm, alongside Cagni Williams Energy (CWE), offers a full suite of services designed to make healthcare institution buildings
more sustainable and energy-efficient. These services include carbon impact analysis at the early design stage, whole-life energy modelling, and long-term estate decarbonisation planning. By collaborating with engineers, cost consultants, clinical leaders, and Estates teams, we ensure that sustainability is embedded into the design and planning process from the outset. Architects – due to their systems thinking approach, can
integrate multiple factors – such as building performance, energy use, patient needs, and operational efficiencies – into the design process. Their expertise in coordinating complex systems is critical in achieving high-level sustainability goals, and ensuring that these goals are met in a practical, financially viable way. The result is a significant reduction in carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and improved operational efficiencies that benefit the NHS Trust, private healthcare institutions, and the local community.
The energy-cost equation: why Net Zero makes financial sense The rising costs of energy, exacerbated by global events and market volatility, present a significant financial burden on NHS Trusts. The NHS is a major energy consumer, and its energy usage is projected to rise as the demand for healthcare services continues to increase. This makes
Greenery permeates the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital – from planted terraces at multiple levels on the building itself, to its 17- acre site, with a public green large enough for a cricket game. These spaces are more than visual enhancements, contributing to mental wellbeing, and promoting physical and social activity, while supporting local biodiversity. CWA envisioned these green spaces as community assets, creating a welcoming environment that reflects MMUH’s role not only as a hospital for patients and staff, but as a vibrant hub for the surrounding community.
44 Health Estate Journal September 2025
Jack Hobhouse
Paul Raftery
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