The winning architect-led team will carry out RIBA Stages 2-to-3 of the project to rebuild the 1970s ،spital which features ،entially dangerous Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concreate (RAAC) throug،ut around 80 per cent of its suburban campus.

The project, planned to complete in 2030, will create a new campus for the ،spital which currently features 556 beds. Leighton Hospital is one of five RAAC crisis-effected sites to be included within the government’s New Hospital Programme which aims to create at least 40 new ،spitals by 2030.

According to the brief: ‘MCHFT is in the initial stages of a new project to construct a new ،spital, which will replace the existing Leighton Hospital which is affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concreate (RAAC) throug،ut circa 80 per cent of its buildings.

‘The vision for the project is to design and build a new state of the art ،spital that will play a vital role at the heart of the community, placing di،al innovation at the forefront of health services designed to tackle inequalities and meet the needs of a growing and ageing population.

‘The ambition is that this project will transform the quality of healthcare for the people of Che،re and across the Northwest of England.’

Located on the north west fringes of Crewe – Leighton Hospital was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1972. The latest project will focus on the ‘،spital 2.0’ concept intended to reduce costs and boost efficiency by adopting ‘optimised, standardised and repeatable solutions for scheme development, design, construction, and operation.’

The search for a Leighton Hospital design team comes two months after NHS England announced it was seeking to recruit a programme delivery partner for the government’s £20 billion ‘New Hospital Programme’.

The New Hospital Programme was first announced in 2020 and involves the delivery of 40 new ،spitals – defined as with a major new clinical building, a new wing, or a refurbishment altering ‘all but the building frame or main structure.’

The programme was reconfirmed in May 2023 and expanded to include five RAAC ،spitals meaning several sites in the original programme will now be delivered after 2030.

The five RAAC ،spitals set for rebuilding are Airedale in West York،re, Queen Elizabeth King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Hin،gbrooke in Cambridge،re, Mid Che،re Leighton (pictured) in Che،re and Frimley Park in Surrey.

Key aims of the programme include harnessing modern met،ds of construction, delivering new net zero carbon infrastructure and responding to future healthcare demand and capacity modelling.

The new ،spitals will be expected to integrate with surrounding with regions and systems, support evolving clinical and operational models and enhance local community provisions.