Laing O’Rourke will deliver the new Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, following confirmation of government funding through the New Hospitals Programme at the end of January. The quarter-of-a-billion-pound healthcare investment will establish a regional Centre of Excellence for cancer care, serving Brighton & Hove, Sussex, and a population of approximately two million people.
Designed to welcome more than 60,000 patients each year, the new centre forms a critical part of the wider 3Ts Redevelopment programme. It builds on the successful delivery of The Louisa Martindale Building, located adjacent to the new development, and reflects a continued commitment to digitally enabled healthcare construction.
Digitally enabled healthcare construction at scale
The Sussex Cancer Centre has been designed to improve safety, efficiency and access to cancer services through advanced digital construction methodologies. The facility will house high-precision radiotherapy suites in the basement, expanded outpatient clinics, assessment areas and a day-unit on the lower levels, and a top-floor inpatient ward overlooking the sea.
Every level has been planned to support clinical workflows and patient experience, underpinned by digital design, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and data-led coordination. These approaches are intended to reduce construction risk, improve quality assurance and support long-term operational performance across the hospital estate.
Peter Lyons, Managing Director at Laing O’Rourke, said: “This is an incredible project and one that I am proud we are a part of. The new cancer centre will transform the experience of care for patients and the work environment for staff.”
He added: “At Laing O’Rourke we have a rich history in delivering hospitals, including The Louisa Martindale Building, so we’ll be able to use the power of our experience to improve the safety and efficiency on site, while guaranteeing the quality of product.”
Offsite manufacturing and integrated supply chains
A core component of the delivery strategy is the use of offsite manufacturing and an integrated supply chain, supporting programme certainty and reduced disruption. By manufacturing components in controlled environments, Laing O’Rourke aims to enhance build quality while minimising site congestion in a constrained urban hospital setting.
“Leveraging digital design and offsite manufacturing, along with our integrated supply chain, we’ll be able to minimise disruption to local residents,” Lyons explained. These methods align with wider NHS objectives around modern methods of construction, productivity and whole-life value.
Purpose-designed for clinical excellence
The Sussex Cancer Centre will operate as a regional hub of expertise, significantly increasing capacity and service integration. A dedicated Oncology Acute Assessment area is expected to prevent more than 1,000 vulnerable cancer patients each year from attending the general A&E department, ensuring they receive specialist care while easing pressure on emergency services.
Dr Sarah Westwell, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Chief of Service for Cancer, said: “For our patients and all the staff I’ve worked alongside for years, this is a watershed moment that finally brings our facilities in line with the world-class care we strive to deliver every day.”
Patient experience, research and public realm
Patient experience has informed every aspect of the design, from coherent floor layouts to chemotherapy treatment spaces with access to natural light. Modern facilities replace outdated and fragmented environments, supporting dignity, privacy and clinical effectiveness.
Research and innovation spaces are embedded throughout the building, enabling participation in clinical trials and the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled diagnostics and treatment pathways. This integration ensures that global research developments can be translated into local patient benefit.
Externally, a new landscaped garden and green public realm will connect the Sussex Cancer Centre with the Louisa Martindale Building, creating a unified healthcare campus and restorative outdoor environment for patients, families and staff.
The Sussex Cancer Centre demonstrates how digital construction, integrated supply chains and healthcare expertise can deliver patient-focused hospitals that support clinical outcomes, research capability and operational efficiency.
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