LONDON—The Government has approved funding for the expansion and modernisation of James Paget University Hospital (JPUH) in Great Yarmouth according to a master plan and design by Perkins&Will. One of the seven hospitals originally constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) included in Wave 1 of the Government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP), the project is scheduled to be delivered by 2032. Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, recently reconfirmed the Government’s commitment to the NHP, the flagship scheme designed to deliver an upgraded NHS, fit for the future. JPUH provides general acute and specialist services for around 300,000 residents in East Anglia, plus a significant number of tourists who visit the area.
Perkins&Will developed the proposal in alignment with the NHP’s Hospital 2.0 guidelines. The design team is currently working with the NHP to fine tune the concept. The master plan creates a framework for future development, expansion of the main acute hospital, and provision of ambulatory care, staff training, and administration. Extensive clinical and stakeholder consultation informed a rigorous optioneering exercise, at both the master plan and building scale, to ensure the preferred option met the Trust’s vision.
Jo Segasby, Chief Executive, James Paget University Hospital, said: “This is a significant moment for our hospital, and for the future of health and care services in our community. Our new hospital is an opportunity that may come once in a generation, and we are enthusiastic to continue our work with our staff, our patients, and our partners in developing our Future Paget Programme.”
A set of design principles based upon a holistic approach to sustainability and regenerative design informs the new campus. Utilising the modular and standardised approach of Hospital 2.0, the design seeks a synthesis of building and landscape—maximising the power of nature to create a welcoming and healing environment. The modularised system creates pockets of outdoor space for entrances, parking, and landscape. A street at the heart of the project is the central organising element, connecting the internal courtyards and roof terraces and forming a conceptual spine for future expansion of the hospital to the east, on the site of the existing RAAC hospital.
Key features of the masterplan include:
- A generous and welcoming arrival area at the front of the new building, providing a high-quality public realm, pedestrian priority landscaping, and space for community events, as well as a drop-off area for patients and visitors.
- Separation of vehicular flows around the perimeter of the site to create a safe and green interior to the campus.
- Enhancing the use of key existing landscape features on the site and maximising opportunities for biodiversity.
- Creation of a new public park in the heart of the campus to provide a community recreational amenity in anticipation of a wider mixed-use development.
- Integration of landscape, drainage, and car parking to minimise the use of underground infrastructure.
Rafael Marks, Principal, Perkins&Will, said: “The James Paget University Hospital is a fantastic opportunity to provide the people of Great Yarmouth and the wider community with healthcare facilities that are fit for now and for the future. This is a flagship project for Perkins&Will London’s growing healthcare portfolio, and we look forward to continuing our close and collaborative working relationship to design a new hospital that meets both the aspirations of the Trust and the vision of the NHP.”
The master plan is currently being upheld by the NHP as an exemplary approach to design and methodology. NHP delegates recently visited the site to discuss key elements of the programme with clinicians.
Josie Rudman, NHP Transformation Director and Chief Nurse, said: “The new hospital will enhance the patient experience and make the hospital a better place to work for staff.”
JPUH will be one of the largest construction projects in the area for decades and can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and employment opportunities. Perkins&Will is working closely with stakeholders, the local authority, and the wider community to ensure thorough and effective consultation and engagement is carried out. Contractor procurement for the enabling works is currently in train, and outline planning is due to be submitted in July 2025.
Mark Flynn, Director of Strategic Projects, James Paget University Hospital, said: “Working with our architect partner Perkins&Will, we will soon be able to share our refreshed master plan for the new hospital with the public, and will host a range of drop-in events across Great Yarmouth and Waveney to get feedback on our latest designs.”
