Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has secured the last parcel of land required for the proposed new Royal Preston Hospital site.
The Farington location, between Stanifield Lane and Wigan Road, completes the land assembly needed to progress planning, design, and public engagement for the replacement hospital.
At this stage, no construction contract has been awarded and no main contractor has been appointed.
The project forms part of the government’s multi‑billion‑pound New Hospital Programme, which has established frameworks such as the Hospital 2.0 Alliance to support delivery of large and complex hospital projects across multiple waves.
The Preston scheme sits in the third wave and is yet to enter procurement for a delivery partner.
The third wave of the programme focuses on the most complex, long-lead projects, primarily in London and other major urban centres, including large-scale and technically challenging hospital developments.
Revised New Hospital Programme timelines push delivery of the scheme back by around a decade, with construction of the facility expected to begin between 2035 and 2039, and completion expected between 2040 and 2045.
With land now in trust ownership, the project team can focus on developing detailed design, infrastructure planning, and consultation with local communities.
The replacement hospital is being designed to tackle long-standing capacity pressures and the limitations of the existing estate, delivering modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for patients across central Lancashire.
The existing Royal Preston Hospital will continue to operate until the new facility is ready.
Over the coming years, public engagement and planning processes will shape the final design, service mix, and delivery strategy for the replacement hospital.