A message from Alastair Finney, Redevelopment Director
As 2024 comes to an end, we can celebrate good progress as we continue to lay the foundations for the new hospital and wider transformation of the current Whipps Cross site.
In the summer, the first construction began on site with the start of work on the first of two new multi-storey car parks. When completed in August 2025 the new car park will free up the existing temporary staff car park to become the site of the new hospital itself.
With the foundations now completed, we are already seeing rapid progress to install pre-cast concrete elements such as the staircases and lifts. The new year will see multiple steel girders installed as the building continues to rise and take shape.
Through the building of the new car park, we have been able to offer local students the opportunity to find out more about working in the construction industry. Our construction partner IHP (Integrated Health Projects) has hosted several work experience placements for local students enabling them to explore various roles within a construction project.
Throughout the year we have continued to review and refresh our proposals for the new hospital ahead of the submission of our detailed outline business case to national government. Part of this work has been assessing the deliverability of 100% single bedrooms whilst working to reach a definitive inpatient overnight bed number range for the new hospital.
During 2024 we have been pleased to meet with our local MPs to show them our overall state of readiness and the wider benefits of the site regeneration, including the creation of up to 1,500 new homes and more than 50,000 square metres of new parks and green spaces.
In July, the new government announced a review of the national New Hospital Programme, of which Whipps Cross is part. The review is yet to conclude but we anticipate an announcement in early 2025. We expect that announcement will begin to make clear a timeline for submission of our detailed business case and a timeframe for when construction of the new hospital itself will start.
In the meantime, can I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support for the new hospital and I wish you, your family and friends all the best for 2025.