Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Bouygues UK to construct a children's hospital in the East of England.

This first specialist facility is designed to integrate physical and mental healthcare with life sciences research.

The Cambridge Children's Hospital, a new five-storey, 35,000m² facility, will be situated at the core of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The project represents a partnership between Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Cambridge, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.

Spanning six floors, the hospital will feature 108 inpatient beds, 42 day-case beds, 16 intensive care beds, seven operating theatres, and advanced imaging and diagnostic services. It will also house a hospital school.

Additionally, it will feature a 5,000m² research institute, fostering a collaborative environment to enhance children's and young people's health.

Cambridge University Hospitals' new hospital construction director Matt Allen said: “Bouygues UK is a first-class contractor with proven expertise in building and delivering excellent healthcare infrastructure within a collaborative environment.”

Design ideas for the facility were contributed by Youth Forum and Young Adult Forum.

Hawkins\Brown, White Arkitekter, and Ramboll designed the facility, with Mace overseeing management of the project and EDGE handling cost control.

The Cambridge Children's Hospital exemplifies the NHS' 10-year Health Plan's shift and step towards integrated care and early disease prevention and diagnosis.

Fundraising efforts for the hospital are underway by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Head to Toe Charity and the University of Cambridge.

With ministerial approval secured in August 2024 for its Outline Business Case, the project team is establishing the Full Business Case and plans to collaborate with Bouygues to set a timeline for the construction, expected to begin in the coming 18 months.