Supporting the future of NHS estates: How modular construction can help address healthcare infrastructure challenges
The NHS continues to face significant challenges as it works to modernise ageing infrastructure, increase capacity and improve healthcare facilities across England.
With growing pressure on existing buildings, a substantial maintenance backlog and continued investment through the New Hospital Programme, the need for effective, long-term healthcare estate solutions remains a priority.
As NHS Trusts plan for 2027 and beyond, delivering new facilities while maintaining essential services will require careful planning, collaboration and innovative approaches to construction.
At Wernick Buildings, we understand the importance of creating healthcare environments that support patients, staff and the wider operation of NHS estates. Through permanent modular construction, we work with healthcare providers to deliver purpose-designed facilities that respond to changing requirements.
Addressing the NHS maintenance backlog
The condition of existing healthcare infrastructure presents a significant challenge for NHS organisations.
According to NHS England’s Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) for 2024/25, the estimated cost of eradicating the NHS estate maintenance backlog reached £15.9 billion.
This figure highlights the scale of investment required to bring existing buildings up to the necessary condition, with ageing facilities placing increasing demands on maintenance budgets and estate management teams.
For NHS Trusts, addressing these challenges involves more than maintaining existing buildings. It also requires consideration of whether current facilities remain suitable for their intended purpose and how estates can accommodate future service requirements.
In some cases, refurbishment may provide the most appropriate solution. In others, replacing outdated accommodation or developing additional buildings may offer greater long-term value.
Permanent modular construction provides an alternative approach for healthcare organisations considering new facilities, allowing buildings to be designed around specific operational requirements while benefiting from an offsite manufacturing process.
The new hospital programme and the future of healthcare infrastructure
The government’s New Hospital Programme represents a significant commitment to renewing healthcare infrastructure across England.
Following a review of the programme, the government established a phased approach to delivery, with hospital developments progressing through consecutive waves of investment.
Alongside new hospital construction, NHS capital investment is also focused on upgrading existing facilities, improving estate condition and supporting the development of modern healthcare environments.
These programmes represent an important opportunity to consider how different construction methods can support the delivery of healthcare infrastructure.
While major hospital developments require complex planning and delivery, there are also opportunities to develop additional accommodation within existing estates.
This may include consultation and treatment facilities, ward accommodation, administrative offices, staff facilities and other supporting buildings.
Permanent modular construction can play a valuable role in delivering these facilities, either as standalone developments or as part of wider estate improvement programmes.
By engaging with construction partners early in the planning process, NHS Trusts can explore how offsite manufacturing may support their project requirements, delivery programmes and long-term estate objectives.
Expanding healthcare capacity within existing estates
Alongside major hospital redevelopment programmes, many NHS Trusts must continue to address immediate and medium-term accommodation requirements.
Growing demand for services, changes in clinical pathways and the need to make better use of available space can all influence decisions about estate expansion.
Creating additional capacity does not always mean constructing an entirely new hospital.
In some cases, new clinical buildings can provide additional consultation rooms, treatment facilities or ward accommodation. In others, relocating non-clinical functions can allow existing hospital space to be repurposed for patient care.
This approach was demonstrated through Wernick Buildings’ work at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Working with North Bristol NHS Trust, Wernick delivered a purpose-built, two-storey modular office building comprising 38 modules.
The development provided modern accommodation for executive and support staff, helping to alleviate space constraints within the main hospital and allowing vacated accommodation to be converted for clinical use.
The project demonstrates how investment in supporting facilities can contribute to wider healthcare estate objectives, helping organisations make more effective use of their existing infrastructure.
Delivering new buildings while healthcare services remain operational
One of the key considerations for healthcare construction is the need to maintain essential services throughout a building project.
Hospitals are complex, operational environments where access, safety, logistics and disruption must be carefully managed.
For NHS Trusts undertaking estate improvements, reducing the impact of construction activity on patients, staff and surrounding departments is an important part of project planning.
Modular construction offers advantages in this area.
By manufacturing substantial elements of a building offsite in a controlled factory environment, site preparation and building production can take place simultaneously.
This can help reduce the overall construction programme and the amount of activity required on site compared with some traditional construction approaches.
For healthcare environments, where operational continuity is essential, this can be particularly beneficial.
However, successful delivery still depends on careful coordination with NHS estates teams and other stakeholders to ensure that construction activities are planned around the needs of the site.
Supporting healthcare development through permanent modular construction
As the NHS continues to invest in modernising its infrastructure, construction methods that support efficient delivery, design flexibility and long-term building performance will have an important role to play.
At Wernick Buildings, we provide permanent modular solutions for a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare applications.
Our buildings can be designed to accommodate individual project requirements, with layouts, internal specifications and external finishes developed to suit their intended use and surrounding environment.
Working closely with healthcare providers, architects and project teams, we aim to understand the requirements of each development from the outset.
This collaborative approach allows key considerations, including building functionality, site constraints, technical specifications and future adaptability, to be addressed throughout the design and delivery process.
Whether supporting an existing hospital estate, providing additional accommodation or contributing to a wider redevelopment programme, permanent modular construction offers a practical option for healthcare organisations planning their next project.
Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond
The scale of investment required across NHS estates highlights the importance of long-term planning and collaboration.
While the New Hospital Programme will deliver major developments over the coming years, healthcare providers must also consider how to maintain and improve existing facilities, address accommodation requirements and support the changing needs of patients and staff.
No single construction method will provide the answer to every healthcare estate challenge.
However, permanent modular construction can form part of a wider approach to healthcare infrastructure development, providing flexible, purpose-designed buildings that support both immediate requirements and long-term estate plans.
At Wernick Buildings, we are committed to working with NHS Trusts and healthcare providers to deliver high-quality buildings that support the future of healthcare services.
Discover how Wernick Buildings can support your requirements through permanent modular construction.
Steven Batey – Wernick Buildings healthcare specialist
