Laing O’Rourke has officially signed a contract with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) to deliver a major expansion of Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH), marking a significant milestone in the Trust’s long-term programme to modernise healthcare services across West Yorkshire.
The project will substantially increase the capacity of Calderdale Royal Hospital by doubling the size of the existing facility. Once completed, the expanded hospital will become the primary centre for all unplanned (acute) care across the region, while planned healthcare services will be consolidated at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI). The transformation is designed to improve patient outcomes, enhance clinical services, and create modern healthcare environments capable of meeting growing demand for decades to come.
A key element of the expansion is the construction of a brand-new Emergency Department that will significantly enhance emergency care provision for the local community. The facility will also include a dedicated Children’s Emergency Department, providing specialist emergency treatment for younger patients in an environment specifically designed to meet their needs.
In addition to the emergency facilities, the development will deliver eight new inpatient wards, increasing bed capacity and supporting the Trust’s ambition to provide more efficient, high-quality healthcare services. The expanded infrastructure will enable healthcare professionals to deliver improved patient care while accommodating future population growth and increasing healthcare demands.
Laing O’Rourke will leverage its extensive experience in delivering large-scale healthcare infrastructure projects throughout the UK. The company is recognised for its expertise in modern methods of construction (MMC) and advanced offsite manufacturing techniques, which are expected to play a central role in the successful delivery of the project.
By adopting industrialised construction methods, Laing O’Rourke aims to improve productivity, enhance construction quality, reduce programme risks, and provide greater certainty around project delivery. The use of offsite manufacturing also helps minimise on-site labour requirements, improves safety, and supports more sustainable construction practices through reduced material waste and increased efficiency.
The company believes that these innovative construction techniques will help deliver a modern healthcare facility that meets the highest standards of quality while ensuring a more predictable construction programme.
Peter Lyons, Managing Director of Laing O’Rourke, said the project reflects the company’s commitment to delivering infrastructure that creates lasting social value.
He explained that the organisation is driven by its purpose of pushing the boundaries of what is possible in service of communities, adding that few projects better demonstrate that purpose than creating world-class healthcare facilities for patients and the medical professionals who care for them.
Lyons also highlighted the collaborative design process that has already taken place with healthcare staff, noting that input from the people who will ultimately work in the hospital has helped shape the development of the new facilities.
He added that Laing O’Rourke is proud to be delivering the expansion using its pioneering industrialised construction methods, which not only improve quality and delivery certainty but also reduce the physical demands placed on construction workers while providing long-term value for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
For Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, the contract represents another important step in its wider Foundations for our Future programme, an ambitious initiative focused on transforming hospital and community healthcare services across the region.
Chief Executive Rob Aitchison described the project as an exciting milestone for the Trust, saying the new hospital building at Calderdale will play a vital role in reshaping healthcare delivery for future generations.
He noted that significant progress has already been achieved over the past two years through the Trust’s investment programme. Among the major developments already completed are a new Accident and Emergency department at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and two Community Diagnostic Centres located in Halifax and Huddersfield. These facilities are helping bring healthcare services closer to local communities while improving patient access and overall care experiences.
According to Aitchison, the Calderdale Royal Hospital expansion will build on these achievements by providing modern clinical environments that support more efficient healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes.
Beyond healthcare improvements, the project is also expected to generate substantial social and economic benefits for the surrounding communities. Working alongside Laing O’Rourke, the Trust aims to maximise social value throughout the construction programme by creating employment opportunities, supporting local businesses, developing workforce skills, and strengthening the regional economy.
The partnership is expected to leave a lasting legacy that extends beyond the new hospital buildings, delivering benefits for local residents through apprenticeships, supply chain opportunities, and community engagement initiatives.
Once completed, the expanded Calderdale Royal Hospital will become a cornerstone of healthcare provision across the region, offering modern emergency care facilities, increased inpatient capacity, and improved clinical environments that support both patients and healthcare professionals.
The project also reinforces the growing role of modern methods of construction in delivering complex healthcare infrastructure, demonstrating how innovative building techniques can help create resilient, high-quality facilities while improving efficiency, sustainability, and certainty throughout the construction process.
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