Government pledges more cash to plan redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital

The Government is to provide millions of pounds in funding towards detailed designs and planning for the redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.

More than half of the Westminster hospital is older than the NHS, with the site suffering from much-publicised issues including crippling costs and a deteriorating estate.

It is to be included in the third wave of New Hospital Programme (NHP) funding, meaning construction is not expected to start for another decade, but the chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Professor Tim Orchard, said the redevelopment presents ‘an exceptional opportunity’ to contribute to economic growth while also replacing its ageing facilities.

Professor Orchard last month warned St Mary’s ‘will not last’ until the 2040s following the announcement it would be included in the NHP’s third wave of funding.

The NHP was a 2019 Conservative election pledge promising to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030. The National Audit Office in 2023 warned the 2030 target was likely to be missed, and more hospitals have been added to the NHP over time.

Soon after taking power Labour launched a review into the programme, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced funding would be released in waves – due to the unaffordability of the original scheme.

All three Imperial sites, Hammersmith, Charing Cross and St Mary’s, were included in the final wave on which construction is not expected to start until 2035 to 2038.

The Trust has estimated every six-month delay to the St Mary’s scheme would cost an additional £63-£73 million due to inflation, productivity and other impacts.

Professor Orchard said at the time: “We understand that the Government’s New Hospital Programme must be affordable but the simple truth is that St Mary’s Hospital, in particular, will not last until the 2040s.”

The Trust has now announced the NHP will be providing funding to enable it to continue designing and planning for the St Mary’s redevelopment. An initial tranche of £19.4m is expected this month, with a total of around £50m estimated to be required to complete the work.

Professor Orchard said alongside progressing planning, the Trust will also be working with partners to reduce the funding required for construction to begin, with the hope this may bring forward the start date.

He said: “We have an exceptional opportunity to make a significant contribution to economic growth through the expansion of Paddington Life Sciences – the life sciences hub surrounding St Mary’s – at the same time as building the new hospital to replace our current facilities, some of which are 180 years old.”

Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of the Labour-run Westminster City council, said the announcement will ‘boost efforts’ to secure funding to cover the project’s main construction costs.

“The council is proud to be working with the Trust on a joint taskforce, to include our MPs and a range of other stakeholders and experts, to make this redevelopment a reality as soon as possible.

“This is a huge step towards replacing the current Victorian era buildings and great news for Westminster where residents will benefit from new, improved facilities at London’s busiest major trauma centre, which treats over a million patients each year.

“We’re looking forward to working with Imperial College Healthcare to deliver a new 850 bed hospital and world leading research centre – securing the best care and new jobs for our city.”

Cllr Paul Swaddle, leader of the Conservative opposition at Westminster City council, said: “I and the local Conservatives, along with hundreds who signed our petition, have been calling on the Government and the local Labour council to step up on St Mary’s Hospital and back the urgently needed rebuild.

“It seems these cries have finally been listened to. I hope they will deliver a plan to enable the full rebuild, well before 2035 set by Government most recently.”

Pictured top, from left to right: Stuart Love (chief executive of WCC), Tim Orchard, Rachel Blake (MP for Cities of London and Westminster), Adam Hug (Leader WC council), Joe Powell (MP for Kensington and Bayswater), and Nafsika Butler-Thalassis (Westminster cabinet member for public health) (Picture: LDRS)