The NHS’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme maintained momentum throughout May, with new facilities opening, major construction projects reaching key milestones and fresh investment confirmed for future schemes.
The scheme is a nationwide initiative designed to expand access to diagnostic services closer to patients’ homes.
While patients began accessing services at newly completed facilities in Epping and Birmingham, work also advanced on major schemes in Essex, Berkshire and Sussex, alongside confirmation of funding for a further four CDC developments across England.
According to NHS England, more than 170 CDCs are now operational nationwide.
The following is a roundup of key CDC milestones from May 2026.
CDCs that opened
St Margaret’s CDC, Epping: Delivered by Morgan Sindall, the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust officially opened the new Community Diagnostic Centre at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping on 8 May.
The construction firm began works in early 2025 after planning approval was secured in 2024, with the project reaching key milestones, including a topping-out ceremony in June 2025 before welcoming its first patients in March 2026 ahead of the formal opening.
The Trust incorporated artwork and interior design features intended to support patient wellbeing. Further expansion works at the site are planned through to 2027.
South Birmingham CDC: The South Birmingham Community Diagnostic Centre opened at Maypole Retail Park in May, following the redevelopment of a former retail unit into a purpose-built healthcare facility.
The project was delivered by InHealth in partnership with NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, with engineering consultancy WSP providing structural design support for the conversion and fit-out works.
The build converted an existing retail unit into a healthcare facility and involved extensive refurbishment and adaptation of the former commercial space, with structural engineering consultancy WSP supporting the redesign and fit-out.
The completed scheme retained much of the existing structure while introducing new healthcare infrastructure, including accommodation for MRI, CT and X-ray equipment, and is expected to provide around 37,000 appointments annually.
Opening in June
Plymouth CDC: BAM UK and Ireland is preparing to open the new Plymouth Community Diagnostic Centre in June, with the £21.96m project recently handed over to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust following completion of the main construction phase.
Built on a long-vacant city centre site at Colin Campbell Court, the three-storey facility was designed by local architectural practice KTA and delivered through the Southern Construction Framework, with BAM working alongside Totus Engineering, GE Healthcare and MIS Healthcare on the specialist diagnostic installation and commissioning works.
The three-storey facility was designed by local architectural practice KTA and constructed by BAM under the Southern Construction Framework.
New, expanded or enhanced CDCs
Four new CDCs to be built under funding injection: The government announced a £237m funding package to support 36 Community Diagnostic Centre schemes across England. The investment includes four new CDCs, 17 expansion projects and 15 enhancement schemes aimed at increasing diagnostic capacity and reducing waiting times.
The four new centres confirmed are Bideford CDC in Devon, Gorton CDC in Manchester, Boston CDC in Lincolnshire and Luton CDC in Bedfordshire. A number of existing facilities will also benefit from expansion and upgrade works.
Luton and South Bedfordshire CDC: A groundbreaking ceremony was held in May to mark the start of construction on the new Luton and South Bedfordshire Community Diagnostic Centre.
The £25m project is being delivered by contractor Ashe Construction on the University of Bedfordshire campus and will provide endoscopy, CT and DEXA scanning facilities for local patients. Developed by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and Central East Integrated Care Board, the centre is expected to open in spring 2027.
Ongoing CDC projects
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MTX Contracts
MTX is a full-service healthcare provider, bringing together design, build, finance, operation and maintenance expertise for healthcare projects throughout the UK
P+HS Architects
P+HS Architects is an award winning practice, highly experienced in healthcare design. Our aim is simple: to create places that enhance people’s lives.
We work...
- Companies:
- Logan Construction
- Morgan Sindall Construction
- Ashe Construction
- NHS Birmingham and Solihull