Perkins&Will has been appointed as lead consultant for the replacement of James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s hospital in Great Yarmouth.
The project, which is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP), will replace the existing James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.
The hospital is one of several NHS buildings prioritised for redevelopment due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Government funding for the scheme was approved earlier this year following the development of a masterplan and initial design proposals by Perkins&Will’s London studio.
Following a competitive procurement process, the firm has now been appointed to provide architectural services, lead multidisciplinary design coordination and act as contract administrator across all stages of the RIBA Work Plan.
Designed in line with the NHP’s Hospital 2.0 guidance, the scheme will adopt Modern Methods of Construction and standardised design principles intended to support faster and more efficient delivery.
The Hospital 2.0 approach uses repeatable layouts, standardised components and platform-based design methods intended to improve consistency across NHS projects while supporting flexibility, operational efficiency and faster construction timelines.
A representiative from Perkins&Will told Building Better Healthcare that the designs place a focus on hospital spaces beyond just modularised clinical core, with special attention paid to spaces like arrival areas, to shape how people feel as well as how they move through the hospital.
The bigger picture for the James Paget Hospital site
The wider design and delivery consultant team on the James Paget Hospital includes WSP, Allies and Morrison, BVN, Plan A Consultants, Portland Design, Aligned Design Studio, iM2 and Tricon. A contractor has not yet been appointed.
The masterplan sets out a long-term vision for a healthcare and education campus designed to evolve over time, integrating new development with retained and refurbished buildings across the site.
It establishes a connected framework for existing, new and future healthcare facilities, enabling phased growth of the estate while supporting wider development opportunities.
Key features include a new public park at the centre of the campus, pedestrian-priority landscaping and public realm, enhanced biodiversity strategies, and perimeter vehicle routes to create a safer internal environment.
The plan also incorporates integrated drainage and parking strategies designed to reduce reliance on underground infrastructure and support more efficient land use.
The redevelopment is expected to be one of the largest construction projects in the region in recent decades and is anticipated to support economic growth and local employment opportunities.
The new hospital is being delivered by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust alongside The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust under a shared programme within the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
The project recently secured approval of its Strategic Outline Case from the Department of Health and Social Care Joint Investment Committee.
Work is now progressing on the Outline Business Case stage, including detailed design and cost planning.
The representitive said that the architectural practice anticipates the outline business case and start of the site enabling works in 2026/27; full business case completion by 2028; with construction starting 2028/29.
The new James Paget Hospital is expected to open to patients in 2032/33.