A state-of-the-art Outpatient Centre will be the first project delivered in the rebuild of the new North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH), the Chief Executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) announced today.
NMGH is in Wave 1 of the national New Hospital Programme, with up to £1.5 billion invested in its reconstruction over the next nine years. As Greater Manchester’s largest ever NHS capital programme, the project sits at the heart of the wider Victoria North regeneration scheme, which will create 15,000 new homes in the area.
Mark Cubbon, MFT Chief Executive, announced that a new Outpatient Centre would be built as the first phase of the redevelopment, with work due to start onsite next year and the main hospital build to follow.
Mark said: “Having appointed our construction partners Bovis, we can now focus on the first stage of our redevelopment. I’m pleased to announce that, subject to the necessary approvals, we anticipate starting construction of our new Outpatient Centre in 2027 and aim to open to patients in 2029. This is where we turn years of planning and engagement into delivery.
“This news will be incredibly exciting not just for our patients but for our teams, too – they provide some incredible care from facilities which were designed for healthcare practices which are now many decades old.
“Our new hospital won’t just create the modern facilities our patients, colleagues and communities deserve. It will support long-term improvements in health outcomes and kick-start inclusive economic growth. Our programme has already delivered more than £30 million-worth of social value benefits, and this will grow significantly in the coming years through our work with our construction partners Bovis, local authorities, local businesses and community organisations.”
“NMGH has served this community in some form for over 150 years, and this record investment will ensure it continues to do so for generations to come.”
Professor Matt Makin, Interim Joint Chief Medical Officer for MFT, welcomed the announcement of the plans, saying that the future hospital would “revolutionise healthcare”.
Professor Makin, who has worked at North Manchester General Hospital for 10 years, said:
“Our new hospital is about much more than just creating a state-of-the-art building with single rooms for every patient – it will enable us to revolutionise healthcare with a digitally-led hospital which brings cutting-edge innovations and technologies to our patients.
“Our vision is about much more than bricks and mortar, though – by working with our partners at neighbourhood level, we will be redesigning our services to bring care closer to home and prevent ill health. That will be our real measure of success for everyone who works or lives in North Manchester.”
Cllr Thomas Robinson, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care, said: “North Manchester’s healthcare-led programme of regeneration is more than just new buildings – it’s about improving health outcomes for residents, transforming communities and creating life-changing opportunities and jobs for Manchester people.
“It’s one of the most ambitious regeneration programmes in the country and today shows how it continues to gather pace as part of the first wave of the Government’s refreshed New Hospital Programme. The new hospital is part of a wider £6bn opportunity over the next two decades that will address long-standing health inequalities while also delivering new housing, green space and community investment – alongside major economic and social benefits.
“This shows the true power of investing in our health infrastructure to create a fairer, healthier city, working in partnership with the NHS, to deliver tangible outcomes for Manchester’s communities.”
Cllr Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council, said: “We are glad to see the Government backing our ambitious plans for North Manchester which have the potential to change lives and make a long-term difference for the area and opportunities for people who live there.
“The redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital is a cornerstone of a broader vision and long-term commitment to North Manchester that we and our partners have consistently championed at a national and city level.
“The impact will be felt by our communities across North Manchester – and across the wider city. Since 2021, regeneration projects linked to the programme have generated nearly £32m in social value, secured great jobs for 631 local residents, supported 188 apprenticeships and created 5,000 jobs in total – all paid at least the Living Wage.”
David Cadiot, Chief Executive Officer of Bovis, said: “The signing of this construction contract marks an important milestone for Manchester and the wider region, and it will be delivered in partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Hospital 2.0 Alliance and the New Hospital Programme. North Manchester General Hospital will provide modern healthcare facilities that will benefit patients and staff for generations to come.
“Bovis has a longstanding presence in Manchester, and we are proud to be investing in the city’s future, building on the strong social value legacy established through our previous projects and continuing our work with local partners to create opportunities, support skills development and deliver lasting benefits for local communities.”
The announcement follows the award of the construction contract to Bovis last week as part of the Government’s Wave 1 New Hospital Programme allocation process. North Manchester General Hospital serves communities across North Manchester as well as neighbouring Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, providing specialist and acute services to hundreds of thousands of people. When complete, the fully redeveloped hospital is expected to be one of the most digitally advanced healthcare facilities in the country and is currently projected to open in 2035.
Watch: Mark Cubbon and Matt Makin discuss the future of NMGH
Watch Mark Cubbon, Trust Chief Executive and Professor Matt Makin, Joint Chief Medical Officer, discuss the significance of this milestone and their shared vision for the redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital.