Laing O’Rourke picked for Halifax health work

Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has named the firm as preferred contractor to progress a four-storey clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital.

The project will deliver a new adult and children’s accident and emergency department with resuscitation bays and assessment rooms, as well as 10 new inpatient wards.

Brendan Brown, chief executive at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This announcement marks the start of an important milestone for the Trust, and working with Laing O’Rourke, we can now further progress the design of our new clinical building to enable us to deliver high-quality, innovative care to patients.

“We will be working closely with our patients and colleagues to co-design the new facilities in a way that best meets their needs.”

Laing O’Rourke’s group chief operating officer, Cathal O’Rourke, said: “We’re excited to begin this journey with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to provide a state-of-the-art emergency department that will serve the local community for decades to come.

“We’ll use our blueprint for hospitals which involves working with the Trust, its patient groups and the wider project team to influence design and to deliver a programme of work that embeds modern, sustainable methods of construction that will ensure the highest quality, safer working environments, and programme accuracy.

“This project will also enhance the local area as we’ll be able to engage with schools and business to provide working opportunities and education.

“We have vast experience working with the NHS, having built 18 hospitals in the last decade, and can use our industry-leading experience for Calderdale Royal Hospital.”

Enabling works are due to start at the end of 2024, with the project due for completion by the end of 2029.