Planning permission was granted by Cambridge City Council for scheme known as The Forum, a £120m medical and education facility on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
The scheme includes a post-graduate medical education centre, 900 delegate conference centre, 90-bed private hospital, and four-star hotel.
The Forum is being developed by a joint venture between John Laing and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUHT).
Laing O’Rourke will build the 360,000 sq ft facility, fabricating the entire structure and its mechanical and electrical system off-site.
Keith McNeil, chief executive of CUH, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Papworth will be joining us here on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. This is a fantastic opportunity for not only the academic science agenda here on the campus, but we will also see our clinical teams collaborating more effectively on ground-breaking, translational research to improve the health of people in Cambridge, across the UK and globally.
“Our aim with this partnership is to build a world-class, cardio-thoracic service, underpinned by cutting-edge science and clinical care.”
Professor John Wallwork, chairman of Papworth Hospital, said: “Over recent months there has been a concerted effort to secure approval for the business case and I would like to thank the many people involved in bringing this complex issue to fruition, specifically our local MPs as well as Government ministers. We can now look forward to continuing to provide world class cardiothoracic services to patients across the UK, while making a significant contribution to the research and education portfolios already on the campus.”
The new hospital will be a key component of the vibrant biomedical cluster in Cambridge, contributing greatly to the UK economy in terms of research & development in the scientific and medical community and construction jobs.
The designs for the new hospital were revealed in December 2013, and the new announcement allows the further development of detailed plans and final designs.
Construction of the new specialist heart and lung hospital is set to begin in 2015, with completion by 2017 to 2018.
Photo Source: Building
