Morgan Sindall Construction has completed a new hospital ward expansion at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, delivering 48 additional beds while cutting construction-related carbon emissions through major design changes.

The Oak Wards facility, delivered through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, forms part of a wider programme of healthcare infrastructure investment at the Milton Keynes hospital site.

The most significant angle of the project was the reduction of embodied carbon during construction, with the project team reporting savings of 45 tonnes of CO₂e through revised structural and foundation designs.

According to Morgan Sindall, emissions were reduced by replacing piled foundations with pad foundations, cutting concrete use by more than 50%, while a reinforced concrete frame was used instead of steel to lower overall carbon emissions by 60%.

The project also incorporated 35% Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) concrete as part of its low-carbon construction strategy.

The two-storey development includes two 24-bed wards featuring five-bed bays, single bedrooms, nurse stations, utility spaces, ward kitchens and staff facilities.

Hospital expansion built alongside live emergency department operations

Construction work was carried out adjacent to active hospital buildings, including the site’s Emergency Department, requiring phased coordination to minimise disruption to healthcare services during the build programme.

The building was designed with large windows to maximise natural light and includes roof-mounted air source heat pumps, enhanced insulation and upgraded thermal performance measures exceeding current energy efficiency standards.

External works also included sustainable drainage systems such as swales and a rain garden, alongside landscaping intended to support a 10% biodiversity net gain through new planting.

Healthcare construction project supports wider NHS estate investment

The Oak Wards development forms part of a broader £85 million estate investment programme underway at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Emma Curtis, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Northern Home Counties, said: “It’s great to see Oak Wards now open and making a real difference for the hospital and local community here in Milton Keynes.

“We’ve worked closely with MKUH throughout the project to expand capacity and create a space that supports the way staff works day-to-day.

“Just as importantly, we’ve been able to deliver it in a more sustainable way and keep disruption to a minimum while the hospital continued its vital work.”

Joe Harrison, Chief Executive at MKUH NHS Foundation Trust, added: “The opening of Oak Wards is a major step forward for our hospital and the community we serve.

“Patients are now benefiting from this new environment which supports their dignity and recovery, and their early feedback has been extremely positive.

“Our teams are also enjoying the new modern facilities which will help them to deliver the best possible outcomes.

“Oak Wards represents a significant stage in our wider development programme which has seen MKUH invest over £85 million in estate projects during the last year.

“The new building and its facilities were shaped by local people and our staff, and I am very pleased to see their ideas brought to life today.”