NHS England has appointed a joint venture of Mace and Turner & Townsend as the Programme Delivery Partner (PDP) for the New Hospital Programme (NHP).

The NHP was first established in October 2020 to build a series of new hospitals across the UK, alongside replacing or refurbishing existing facilities and improving access to modern healthcare nationwide.

Following a strategic review in September 2024, a rebalancing of the portfolio of hospital schemes was announced in January, with secured funding in five-year waves of investment.

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

The programme will prioritise rebuilding healthcare facilities built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), with the first seven projects being delivered by 2030. Further hospitals will be delivered in waves over the next 15 years and beyond.

Mace and Turner & Townsend will lead the delivery consortium, working together with an extensive national supply chain.

Together, they will act as delivery partners for the NHP, guiding the programme, safeguarding the schedule and budgets, and creating a legacy with the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care for outstanding healthcare facility delivery long into the future.

The NHP will champion a programmatic approach to deliver hospitals at greater speed, value for money and safety.

This will complement an industrialised construction methodology and utilising standardised designs and off-site manufacturing to unlock opportunities for small and medium suppliers across the country, while driving faster delivery of future-facing facilities that take advantage of modern clinical technologies.

Morag Stuart, chief programme officer for the New Hospital Programme, said: “The Programme Delivery Partner appointment demonstrates the government’s commitment to delivering new hospitals and transforming the way that we deliver healthcare in England. This additional, flexible capacity will enable us to build a sustainable and enduring capability.

“The New Hospital Programme, alongside the delivery partner, is ready to deliver at speed and at scale – for the benefit of patients and the NHS.”

Jason Millett, group chief executive officer at Mace, added: “The New Hospital Programme represents one of the most important social infrastructure opportunities of a generation, promising a legacy of transformative healthcare facilities for communities across the UK.

“Having supported both the Department of Health and Social Care, and the National Health Service for several years, we’ve seen firsthand the benefit of providing the nation’s committed healthcare professionals and their patients with the state-of-the-art environments they deserve.

“Now, through our leading role in leading the PDP for the New Hospital Programme, we are committed to bringing that experience and expertise, along with new innovation, to deliver for future generations.”

Chris Sargent, managing director, real estate UK at Turner & Townsend, added: “We are thrilled to be appointed as the Programme Delivery Partner for the New Hospital Programme.

“This appointment builds on the work we are already doing in the sector and our extensive experience in programme management, as well as our longstanding relationship with the NHS.

“Our collaborative approach with Mace and our national supply chain partners will ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art healthcare facilities that meet the needs of patients and clinicians across the UK. We are committed to leveraging our expertise to drive value, efficiency, and innovation in this once-in-a-generation programme."

The government confirmed in January that all projects in the New Hospital Programme will be built – but it will take a decade or more longer.

Following a review, funding and a “realistic timetable” was announced to put the New Hospital Programme on track to deliver all of its hospital projects.

The review has found the previous government’s commitment to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030 was “behind schedule, unfunded and therefore undeliverable”.