The government has confirmed funding and a realistic timetable to put the New Hospital Programme on track to deliver all of its hospital projects.

This timeline for delivery will ensure that staff and patients have access to the facilities they desperately need around the country as soon as possible.

It follows a review of the scheme which found that the previous government’s commitment to deliver ‘40 new hospitals’ by 2030 was behind schedule, unfunded and therefore undeliverable.

In its annual report, the Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA) also deemed the previous scheme ‘unachievable’, rating the programme as red and highlighting major issues including with the schedule and budget. An independent IPA review upgraded the New Hospitals Programme from a red to an amber rating last week, thanks to action taken to improve deliverability.

The new plan will be backed with £15 billion of new investment over consecutive five-year waves, averaging £3 billion a year.

Building an NHS estate that is fit for the future is key to the government’s Plan for Change which will get the health service back on its feet and see waiting times slashed. At the Budget, the Chancellor announced that health capital spending in the NHS is set to increase to record levels of £13.6 billion in 2025-26.

For schemes that were out of scope of the review, those already with approved Full Business Cases will continue as planned and are already in construction (Wave 0).

The remaining schemes will be allocated to one of three wave groups:

  • Schemes in Wave 1 are expected to begin construction between 2025 and 2030. These schemes include hospitals constructed primarily using RAAC, and have been prioritised as patient and staff safety is paramount.
  • Schemes in Waves 2 are expected to begin construction between 2030 and 2035.
  • Schemes in Wave 3 are expected to begin construction between 2035 and 2039.
Revised hospital programme timeline
Wave 0: schemes already under construction
Scheme Started construction Cost estimate
Alumhurst Road Children’s Mental Health Unit, Dorset £500m or less
Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Dorset £500m or less
St Ann’s Hospital, Dorset £500m or less
Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester £500m or less
CEDAR Programme, North East tbc
Oriel Eye Hospital, London tbc
National Rehabilitation Centre tbc
Wave 1: schemes to start construction between 2025 and 2030
Scheme Expected start date Cost estimate
Poole Hospital, Dorset 2025 to 2026 £500m or less
Derriford Emergency Care Hospital, Plymouth 2025 to 2026 £500m or less
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital 2025 to 2026 £500m or less
Shotley Bridge Community Hospital, Durham 2026 to 2027 £500m or less
Milton Keynes Hospital 2027 to 2028 £500m or less
Women and Children’s Hospital, Cornwall 2027 to 2028 £500m or less
Hillingdon Hospital, north-west London 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
North Manchester General Hospital 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds (RAAC) 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
Hinchingbrooke Hospital (RAAC) 2027 to 2028 £501m to £1bn
James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth (RAAC) 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn (RAAC) 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
Leighton Hospital (RAAC) 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
Airedale General Hospital (RAAC) 2027 to 2028 £1bn to £1.5bn
Frimley Park Hospital (RAAC) 2028 to 2029 £1.5bn to £2bn
Brighton 3Ts Hospital 2026 to 2027 tbc
Wave 2: schemes (to start construction between 2030 and 2035
Leeds General Infirmary 2032 to 2034 £1.5bn to £2bn
Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, Sutton 2032 to 2034 £1.5bn to £2bn
Whipps Cross University Hospital, north-east London 2032 to 2034 £1bn to £1.5bn
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow 2032 to 2034 £1.5bn to £2bn
Watford General Hospital 2032 to 2034 £1.5bn to £2bn
Leicester General Hospital Royal Infirmary 2032 to 2034 £1bn to £1.5bn
Kettering General Hospital 2032 to 2034 £1bn to £1.5bn
Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton 2032 to 2034 £501m to £1bn
Torbay Hospital 2032 to 2034 £501m to £1bn
Wave 3: schemes to start construction between 2035 and 2039
Charing Cross Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital, London 2035 to 2038 £1.5bn to £2bn
North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple 2035 to 2038 £1bn to £1.5bn
Royal Lancaster Infirmary 2035 to 2038 £1bn to £1.5bn
St Mary’s Hospital, north west London 2035 to 2038 £2bn or more
Royal Preston Hospital 2037 to 2039 £2bn or more
Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital 2037 to 2039 £2bn or more
Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading 2037 to 2039 £2bn or more
Hampshire Hospitals 2037 to 2039 £2bn or more
Eastbourne District General, Conquest Hospital and Bexhill Community Hospital 2037 to 2039 £1.5bn to £2bn

Hospitals in later waves will be supported on their development and early construction work before then, to ensure that they are ready for main construction.

The plan for implementation sets out a clear pipeline of schemes to be delivered over the next decade and beyond. The New Hospital Programme will continue to work closely with industry to support construction, develop relationships and secure investment within the supply chain.

Morag Stuart, Chief Programme Officer for the New Hospital Programme, said: “This announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care provides certainty on the next steps for the New Hospital Programme.

“We will continue to work with local NHS organisations to deliver improvements to hospitals across England, including making best use of new technology and improving layouts – and ensuring future hospitals are designed to meet the needs of patients and staff.

“The New Hospital Programme is just one part of the government’s wider commitment to transforming the NHS estate. Over £1 billion has been set aside to make inroads into the existing backlog of critical maintenance, repairs and upgrades, while £102 million has been dedicated for upgrades to GP surgeries across England as a first step towards transforming the primary care estate.

This refreshed and honest direction for the NHP will transform the provision of hospital healthcare, to build an NHS fit for the future.”

The plan for implementation is available here: New Hospital Programme review outcome – GOV.UK

The IPA’s assessment of the previous New Hospital Programme is available here: Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report 2023-24 – GOV.UK