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Work is due to start on the multimillion pound redevelopment of the main entrance and retail area of the University Hospital Southampton (UHS), thanks to an innovative deal from the hospital’s Commercial Estates Development Partnership (CEDP) – a joint venture between UHS and Interserve Prime.
The partnership, which is for up to 25 years and worth in the region of £150m in total, involves UHS working with Interserve, the international support services and construction group and health and social care property company Prime to secure funding for new development projects.
The partnership is responsible for the design, build and financing of new facilities for UHS, while also providing the Trust with a spectrum of estates and support services.
The public-private deal – one of the first of its kind in an acute environment – will deliver a multimillion pound welcome centre at the hospital to improve the patient, visitor and staff experience, while providing a varied choice of retailers and food and beverage outlets. The busy location has attracted interest from a number of retailers, with tenancies confirmed for M&S Simply Food, M&S Café, Subway, Costa, WH Smith and The Stock Shop.
Projects such as these are a vital way for Trusts to deliver improved infrastructure and high quality facilities, while still channelling investment into frontline health services.
Retail on the site will continue as ‘business as usual’ while construction work on the new welcome centre commences to minimise disruption to patients, staff and visitors. The new retail area is expected to be complete and fully operational by January 2016.
Speaking of the redevelopment, Nick Johnson at UHS said “Ensuring a positive experience for our patients, visitors and staff is paramount. By working with Interserve Prime to secure funding, private investment can now be quickly channelled into facilities such as the main
entrance and retail area – and this is where our public-private partnership really pays dividends.”
Leighton Chumbley at Interserve Prime said: ‘The Trust identified the welcome area could be improved. We’ve created a solution that not only improves quality and choice by offering an enhanced range of outlets but provides a vital revenue source for the Trust and a brand new welcome centre fitting of the hospital’s reputation for excellence.”
The welcome centre redevelopment is the first of several projects planned for the hospital that will generate additional capital and revenue for the Trust, which can be invested back into improvements to patient services and care. This innovative approach to use commercial developments to improve NHS acute care facilities is an example of how the public and private sectors can successfully work together.
Interserve Prime and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust formed a commercial estates development partnership last year to unlock a number of key sites within the hospital estate to benefit the Trust. The initial programme of projects – starting with the new main entrance and welcome centre – includes enhanced parking services and a multi-storey car park, a patient hotel and private patient facilities.