Work starts on Rob Burrow MND centre

Ground has been broken on the £6.8m project at the Seacroft Hospital in East Leeds, just a day after the rugby star’s tragic passing.

With the project approved in early May, and Yorkshire contractor I&G lined up to start building, a groundbreaking ceremony had long been inked in for today.

Burrow’s parents Irene and Geoff were in attendance, along with Kevin Sinfield, Burrow’s friend and former teammate. Sinfield described the project as “some of the fruits of Rob’s work, he was so proud of this”.

The facility, plans for which were submitted in February, is being developed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and fundraising to reach the full amount continues: around £5.5m of the £6.8m total has been raised so far.

I&G managing director Christopher Carline said that the firm is “extremely proud to have been entrusted to build this new centre”.

Corstorphine & Wright is the architect for the project. The proposed building is arranged in three joined forms, with east and west wings, housing the primary clinical spaces, connected via a central atrium.

This central space has been designed as a community focused area with reading and quiet spaces, as well as activity and dining areas. It will be a place for family members to use and will enable staff to observe patients in a more informal setting.

The first floor is designated as a staff area with a dedicated wellbeing space.