Following a competitive bid process, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has chosen the multi-disciplinary design team to lead the design development of the Women and Children’s Hospital, and key enabling schemes.
These schemes include a new microbiology building to bring together pathology services at the centre of the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
The new Women and Children’s Hospital for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is a Wave 1 scheme within the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
The contract has been awarded to a consortium led by TODD Architects, in collaboration with White Arkitekter, Lavigne Lonsdale, Arup and Turley.
Together, the team brings a wealth of UK and international experience in healthcare design, sustainability, and modern methods of construction.
The milestone follows the strategic decision earlier in 2025 to pursue an alternative “Preferred Way Forward” for the location of the new Women and Children’s Hospital, in a new, more accessible location on the existing hospital site in Truro. The facility could now be built to the west of the site, close to the existing Trelawny Wing main entrance, after moving the existing microbiology service to the centre of the site to create a new pathology hub.
Now the team need to deliver a refreshed Outline Business Case ready for New Hospital Programme and Government approvals from spring 2026
The Women and Children’s Hospital for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly team
With the design team now on board, RCHT is ready to proceed at pace to create the new designs for both the Women and Children’s Hospital and microbiology building / pathology hub that will fully assess and validate the Preferred Way Forward and enable the programme team to deliver a refreshed Outline Business Case ready for New Hospital Programme and Government approvals from spring 2026.
TODD Architects, as executive lead, brings extensive experience in delivering complex healthcare environments across the UK, including paediatric and maternity facilities at the award-winning Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex. The company's practical, buildable designs demonstrate a strong understanding of New Hospital Programme expectations as well as local delivery needs.
White Arkitekter, known for their evidence-based and human-centred design ethos, contribute deep expertise in sustainable architecture and healthcare planning. Their work includes the award-winning Cambridge Children’s Hospital and Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, the world leading Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm.
Lavigne Lonsdale is a Cornwall-based architectural practice, with landscape and urban design specialisms. Already familiar with the Royal Cornwall Hospital for their design of the Critical Care Healing Garden, they will ensure the new buildings are sensitively integrated into the local environment, enhancing green infrastructure and public realm. Their involvement also supports RCHT’s ambition to create a welcoming and healing setting for patients, families, and staff. They will work with RCHT to define and deliver an extensive social value programme throughout the design and construction phases.
Arup will provide specialist engineering design, drawing on their experience delivering major NHS and biomedical projects across the UK including the award-winning Sir William Henry Bragg Building in Leeds, and at RCHT. The team will focus on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), digital integration, and net zero carbon strategies to help deliver efficient, resilient and future-proofed facilities.
Turley, the appointed planning consultant, will lead the planning strategy and permission process for the project, drawing on its national healthcare experience including expansion at Dorset County Hospital and the new Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. Working with Cornwall Council and other stakeholders, Turley’s focus will be to ensure the scheme meets Cornwall’s healthcare needs while addressing environmental policies.
Matthew Hird, Head of Healthcare at TODD Architects and Design Team Lead, said: “We are proud to have been appointed to deliver this important and visionary project for Cornwall. The new Women and Children’s Hospital represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a truly integrated family-centred healthcare facility for the region. Our team is looking forward to working closely with NHS partners, stakeholders, and the local community to ensure the hospital reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of those it will serve.”
The new Women and Children’s Hospital represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a truly integrated family-centred healthcare facility for the region
Brian Johnson, Senior Responsible Officer for the Women and Children’s Programme and Director of Estates and Facilities at RCHT, said: “With our talented design team now in place, and with the continued support of the New Hospital Programme, we can now move forward at pace to deliver our new Women and Children’s Hospital, and fulfil our vision to construct a modern, innovative, and digitally enabled building, fit for the 21st century.”
BAM was also appointed as a principal supply chain manager in 2023.