Morgan Sindall Construction has secured a significant NHS commission to expand digital-led healthcare infrastructure in Suffolk.
Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties business has been appointed by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the £15m construction phase of a new Endoscopy Unit at Newmarket Community Hospital. The overall £25m healthcare facility forms a major investment in regional diagnostic capacity and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
Designed to strengthen access to specialist services, the new unit will bring endoscopy, paediatric audiology and clinical training facilities together within a single purpose-built development. By enabling more procedures to be carried out locally, the project will reduce pressure on West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, shorten patient travel times, and support efforts to lower NHS waiting lists across West Suffolk and surrounding communities.
Procured through the NHS Procure23 framework, the 2,300m² two-storey development has been designed specifically to meet modern clinical standards. The facility will include four endoscopy rooms, 16 pre- and post-procedure preparation rooms, two audiology suites, two training rooms, and a range of supporting clinical and non-clinical spaces. This configuration allows for flexibility in service delivery while futureproofing the building for evolving healthcare needs.
The scheme has been developed collaboratively with Medical Architecture, ETA Projects providing mechanical and electrical engineering, and Rossi Long delivering structural and civil engineering design. Construction will utilise a traditional steel frame, structural framing system (SFS), precast concrete planks, metal decking and a brickwork façade. This approach supports buildability, programme certainty and long-term durability, while maintaining architectural quality within a community hospital setting.
Delivering the Endoscopy Unit within a live hospital environment presents logistical and operational challenges. Morgan Sindall will work closely with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to ensure day-to-day hospital services continue without disruption. The design carefully responds to the constrained site, preserving existing trees and integrating retained structures such as the current retaining wall, demonstrating sensitivity to the hospital’s operational and environmental context.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and digital construction processes are embedded throughout the project. A Pre-Manufactured Value assessment has confirmed a PMV score of 75%, exceeding NHS requirements and supporting improved quality, safety and productivity. Digital tools including ACC, Gamma AR, Occulo and Edocs will be deployed to enhance design coordination, quality assurance, information management and on-site efficiency, aligning the project with best practice in digital construction for healthcare.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a central focus of the scheme. The Endoscopy Unit will operate as an all-electric building, using air source heat pumps for heating and hot water. Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels will contribute to on-site renewable energy generation, while embodied carbon will be monitored using Morgan Sindall’s CarboniCa digital carbon calculation tool. The contractor is also targeting a diesel-free construction site, supporting NHS net zero objectives and wider construction decarbonisation goals.
Social value delivery forms a key component of the project. Morgan Sindall plans to support local skills development by employing at least one full-time apprentice, two industry apprentices and providing 10 weeks of student work placements. In addition, 60% of the supply chain will be sourced within a 30-mile radius, strengthening local employment, supporting SMEs and generating regional economic value.
The new Endoscopy Unit will be located adjacent to the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at Newmarket Community Hospital, which Morgan Sindall delivered for the Trust in December 2024. The proximity of the two facilities creates opportunities for operational integration and reinforces Newmarket’s role as a hub for community-based diagnostics.
Alister Broadberry, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties, said: “This facility represents a major investment in the health and wellbeing of communities across West Suffolk. We’re very much looking forward to working in close partnership with the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust again to deliver modern, efficient clinical spaces that not only improve patient experiences but increase local capacity. Something that’s so important for the local community here in Newmarket. This facility will make a genuine, long-lasting difference for the region, and we’re exceptionally proud to be part of that.”
Thomas Osborne, CDC Project and Operational Service Manager for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, added: “The further expansion of diagnostic services at the Newmarket Community Hospital is a wonderful opportunity to provide the care our patients need, by creating essential capacity for the future. It’s also an exciting opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help reduce waiting times, improve patient outcomes, and enhance patient experience. Feedback from patients and staff about the existing CDC building has been really positive, so it’s exciting to work with Morgan Sindall again to emulate this success with the expansion.”
Through digital construction, MMC, and close NHS collaboration, the Newmarket Endoscopy Unit demonstrates how modern healthcare infrastructure can expand capacity, improve patient access, and deliver long-term value for regional communities.
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