Kier has started work on a new healthcare project which is part of the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC).

Set to open at the end of next year, the 6,800m² facility will be named the Emily Siddon Building and is situated near the centre of Huddersfield.

The ground floor will include a Community Diagnostic Centre which will be run in partnership with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.

Other floors will offer specialist clinical teaching facilities and space for local entrepreneurs or start-up organisations as part of the university’s health and wellbeing innovation centre.

The centre is being supported by the West Yorkshire Mayor and Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The building, which marked the start of work with a groundbreaking ceremony, aims to meet BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards and secure WELL Platinum certification.

Dan Doherty, regional director of Kier Construction North and Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic project to be a part of and I am delighted to be working with the University of Huddersfield to help realise their ambitions.

“Not only are we building a state-of-the-art healthcare facility for the people of Calderdale and Huddersfield, but we are also helping to inspire and nurture the healthcare workforce of the future.”

Over the past year, Kier has delivered 16 healthcare projects worth around £167m for NHS trusts, including 1 Lowther Road, a brand-new NHS Integrated Community Mental Health Centre in Islington and The Dyson Cancer Centre in Bath.