Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties business has handed over a radiotherapy centre to Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) NHS Foundation Trust.
The Radiotherapy Centre is one of three projects Morgan Sindall has been working on at MKUH.
The tier one contractor is also in the process of constructing a brand-new Imaging Centre as well as expanding the hospital’s bed capacity with a new ward facility, Oak Wards.
All three projects were procured through the PAGABO framework and have a combined value of £53.6m.
The £17.6m, two-storey radiotherapy centre includes two medical LINAC bunkers, as well as a main reception, consultation rooms, and a CT scanner area, all connected to the hospital’s recently opened Cancer Centre via a link corridor.
The services in the radiotherapy centre will be run by Oxford University Hospitals. The centre will aim to improve access to radiotherapy for patients who must currently travel to other hospitals in the region to receive treatment.
A versatile 43-bay car park has also been built, providing a purpose-built space for a mobile PET-CT Scanner.
Building for radiation
The specialised nature of the project presented several unique construction challenges.
For example, the build required a “LINAC bunker”. This is a heavily shielded room where a medical linear accelerator (LINAC) is housed. These LINACs are used to deliver high-energy radiation therapy to cancer patients.
The bunker walls, floor, and ceiling are constructed with thick concrete to contain the radiation and prevent it from escaping into surrounding areas during treatment.
A “LINAC bunker” is a heavily shielded room where a medical linear accelerator is housed
Utilising its Intelligent Solutions approach, Morgan Sindall created 2.6m thick concrete walls and a 1.4m thick roof to prevent radiation leakage from the radiotherapy equipment.
Due to the size of the walls and complexity of applying so much concrete, a schedule of long pours was designed to achieve the necessary thickness without compromising the quality of the concrete structure. 90 tonnes of steel have been used in the roof slab alone.
A logistical build
To guarantee a smooth building process, Morgan Sindall accounted for several logistical factors during the development. This included extensive material delivery preparations to avoid undue inconvenience to the hospital’s patients and staff.
Materials were brought through the rear of the building, bypassing the front of the hospital where the new unit is located, as this is an important access point for the adjoining cancer centre, its drop off-point, car park, and nearby energy facilities.
Additionally, in line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to maximising social value for local communities, the team tidied and updated an existing courtyard memorial garden at the hospital last summer.
Creating specialist facilities like this can mean thinking around corners to solve complex challenges
Emma Curtis, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Northern Home Counties, said: “Creating specialist facilities like this can mean thinking around corners to solve complex challenges. But it’s thanks to our close and collaborative working relationship with Milton Keynes University Hospital, and by leveraging our Intelligent Solutions approach to construction, that we can deliver exceptionally valuable medical assets tailored to the needs of staff, patients and visitors.”
Joe Harrison, CEO of Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH), said: “We are delighted to partner with Morgan Sindall on this project and look forward to the continued development of the Imaging Centre and Oak Wards, which will further support our commitment to providing exceptional care to our growing population.”
Sustainability in Oak Wards and Imaging Centre
The £18.1m Oak Wards is set to be completed in early 2026, meanwhile, the £17m Imaging Centre is due to be completed in March 2026.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Morgan Sindall is rolling out the 10 Tonne Challenge during both Oak Wards and the Imaging Centre projects.
The challenge encourages employees to work with consultants and its supply chain to find intelligent solutions that reduce carbon from the construction process by a minimum of 10 tonnes.
Throughout Oak Wards, 45 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent has been saved, whereas the Imaging Centre has saved the equivalent of 26 tonnes of carbon dioxide.