James Paget Hospital has appointed Perkins&Will to lead the design of its plans for a new hospital as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP).
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, based in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, is one of the hospitals constructed using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) being prioritised for rebuilding by the Government, alongside The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.
Both schemes for the new hospitals have recently been brought together in a single, unified programme for Norfolk and Waveney University Hospital’s Group.
The Government approved funding for James Paget’s scheme in early 2025, based on a masterplan and initial design developed by the London studio of global design firm Perkins&Will.
Following a procurement process involving a structured evaluation process with input from a range of stakeholders, James Paget Hospital has appointed Perkins&Will to provide architectural services, act as a lead consultant and contract administrator, and lead a multidisciplinary project team across RIBA work plan stages.
Martin John, Strategic Director for the New Hospital Programme in the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, said: “It's significant for the James Paget Hospital, and for the wider programme, to be able to continue to work with Perkins&Will on the design and development of the new hospital to meet the needs of communities in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.”
“We look forward to building our partnership with Perkins&Will further - deploying their expertise in masterplanning, architecture and technical design - with input from our staff, patients and communities to realise the vision for James Paget’s new hospital."
James Paget Hospital recently received approval of its Strategic Outline Case (SOC) by the Department of Health and Social Care Joint Investment Committee, a significant milestone in planning for its new hospital as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
Both the James Paget and The Queen Elizabeth’s New Hospital schemes have commenced work on the Outline Business Case stage of planning, which requires detailed designs and costing plans for the new builds. Both new hospitals are expected to open to patients in 2032/33.
Perkins&Will’s proposals for James Paget’s new hospital have been developed in alignment with the national New Hospital Programme’s ‘Hospital 2.0’ guidelines, underpinned by a holistic approach to sustainability and regenerative design that informs the vision for the new campus. The design adopts Modern Methods of Construction, utilising repeatable designs within a standardised Hospital 2.0 approach.
“The redevelopment of James Paget University Hospital is critically important for Great Yarmouth and the wider region, delivering modern healthcare facilities that are fit for today and resilient for the future,” says Gonzalo Vargas, health practice leader of Perkins&Will’s London studio.
“By focusing on spaces beyond the modularised clinical core, including arrival areas, concourse, gardens and staff environments, we are shaping how people feel as well as how they move through the hospital. This is a flagship project for Perkins&Will London’s growing healthcare portfolio, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration to deliver a hospital the Trust, its staff and the local community can be proud of.”
The masterplan sets out a long-term vision for a healthcare campus that can evolve over time. While the main RAAC hospital will be demolished, a number of James Paget’s existing buildings will be retained, including both older structures requiring refurbishment and recently completed facilities. The masterplan integrates these buildings into a coherent framework that connects existing and new healthcare assets with future developments.