Published date: 16 January 2025
Delivering transformational projects for the NHS estate: King's Lynn Health Hub
NHSPS collaborated with Norfolk & Waveney ICB and NHS England to build a new healthcare hub in King’s Lynn. Our end-to-end service offering and expertise in managing all aspects of the process – including Development Management, Transaction Management, Lease Advisory, Town Planning, Construction Project Management and Facilities Management - led to the successful delivery of the project. Completing in late autumn 2024, the facility offers primary care services, a maternity hub, and rehabilitation therapy services, enhancing access to healthcare for around 10,000 residents in the town and nearby areas.
"The experience NHSPS brought in delivering services end-to-end was incredibly helpful. Their holistic approach meant cohesive and efficient planning throughout the process and led to the successful completion of this project. The NHSPS Planning Team worked closely with us throughout the planning process for the new build Health Hub. The issues which arose during the course of securing planning consent were complex and NHSPS have been professional throughout in their approach. The team provided much needed clarity for us in challenging and time-bound situations, and responded promptly and helpfully to queries we raised, ensuring that we felt assured throughout. They were also proactive and helpful in engaging and involving wider stakeholders such as local Councillors."
Catherine McWalter, Senior Lead Primary Care Estates Manager, NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB
Background
In March 2022, NHSPS was approached by NHS England (NHSE) and Norfolk & Waveney ICB to support a new health care project at King’s Lynn. Initially our role was to assist the ICB with site acquisition, obtaining planning consents, contractor selection, and managing the pre-construction and construction process.
By March 2023, recognising our expertise in managing all aspects of the development and delivery process - including defining occupier agreements, site due diligence and town planning support - the ICB requested us to deliver and operate the project upon completion.
We liaised with landowners, planning and highways authorities, UK Power Networks, NHSE, local commissioners, and King’s Lynn Integrated Hub - Norfolk’s future users. This was through design meetings, steering and engagement groups. Once this stage was complete, we undertook to manage the facility by agreeing on occupational documentation and planning the operational services in the building.
Construction began in 2023 and completed in late autumn 2024. The project is part of a regeneration initiative and will expand primary care services, ensuring long-term capacity to support housing growth in and around King’s Lynn. It will provide additional capacity for the local Primary Care Network to accommodate Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) positions, as well as secondary care outreach and rehabilitation services from the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Impact
Primary care capacity: The Health Hub will offer a range of primary care services, as well as a maternity hub and rehabilitation therapy services. It will house seven new clinical rooms, providing a modern, fully accessible and digitally enabled facility that will transform how health and care services are delivered in the King’s Lynn area, and increase access to a wider range of services for approximately 10,000 people in the town and surrounding areas.
Reduces pressure on emergency services: Improved primary care capacity means less emergency department visits, where people often go if they can’t see their GP.
Our end-to-end service
From business case development to town planning and cleaning, our team of experts make it easier and more cost effective for our customers help to tackle health inequalities by helping them better
assess, adapt and maintain their estate. For King’s Lynn Health Hub, we provided an end-to-end range of services, including:
- Development Management: A high level feasibility study had already been conducted. We recommended changing the building’s orientation, optimising the layout to better suit operational needs. We also secured additional land beyond the original plan to ensure sufficient car parking for staff and patients.
- Business case development: We supported the ICB with their business case, estimating the rental, construction and running costs of each option.
- Lease advisory: We successfully negotiated and secured the lease, ensuring the NHS received the best value by obtaining the most favourable terms possible.
- Transactions: We acquired the site from West Norfolk County Council.
- Town planning: Our Town Planning team conducted a comprehensive planning review of the site to assess its potential for a health care development. The site benefitted from an outline consent for the delivery of office development as part of a wider masterplan for the area. We recommended
submitting a full planning application for healthcare use. Working closely with the Design and Build contractor, out team proactively engaged with the Local Planning Authority to obtain planning consent within shortened timeframes. This would enable the facility to be delivered in accordance with the client’s deadlines. - Construction project management: Our Construction team supported the fitouts from initial design through to occupation – keeping to agreed timescales and providing regular stakeholder updates throughout the process. We took the lead on construction, appointing the design and build partner. We focussed on designs that would meet clinician’s needs, giving maximum flexibility and future proofing of space.
- Facilities management: Once King’s Lynn became operational, we provided a full suite of Hard and Soft FM services, from lighting, electricals and HVAC services, through to ground maintenance, and security. Keeping the building compliant and running smoothly.
