Morgan Sindall Construction’s Eastern Counties business has been appointed by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the £15m construction phase of a state-of-the-art Endoscopy Unit at Newmarket Community Hospital.
The £25m facility, which will include endoscopy, paediatric audiology, and training facilities, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
The project will significantly improve local access to specialist healthcare services for residents of Newmarket and the neighbouring towns and villages. By providing services closer to home, the new centre is expected to ease pressure on the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, reduce travel times for patients, and help lower waiting times across the region.
Procured through the Procure23 framework, the 2,300m2 purpose-built two-storey project will include four endoscopy rooms, 16 pre- and post-procedure preparation rooms, two audiology suites, two training rooms, and a range of clinical and support spaces.
Developed in collaboration with Medical Architecture, ETA Projects mechanical and electrical engineering, and Rossi Long structural and civil engineering, the building will be delivered using a traditional steel frame with SFS, PCC planks, metal deck, and a high-quality brickwork façade. This combination will provide a durable, efficient, and fast-to-deliver structure, ensuring strong performance and a high-quality finish.
The tier one contractor will deliver the project in a live hospital environment, requiring close coordination with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to maintain seamless day-to-day operations. The scheme has been designed to respect the surrounding setting, including working within a constrained footprint to preserve existing trees and incorporates structural features such as the current retaining wall.
Modern Methods of Construction will be embedded throughout the programme. In fact, A Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV) assessment has already been undertaken, confirming the project will achieve a PMV of 75%, exceeding the NHS minimum requirement by 5%. Digital tools including ACC, Gamma AR, Occulo, and Edocs will also support quality, efficiency, and innovation at every stage.
In line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to sustainability, the building will operate as an all-electric facility using air source heat pumps for heating and hot water. The team will also install PV panels on the roof, track embodied carbon savings using the CarboniCa digital carbon calculation tool, and target a diesel-free construction site.
To ensure the project delivers lasting social value, the team plans to welcome a minimum of one full time apprentice, two industry apprentices, and 10 weeks of student work placements – creating opportunities for local people to gain experience on a live construction site. In addition, 60% of the supply chain will be drawn from a 30-mile radius, supporting local employment and economic growth.
The Endoscopy Unit will be located adjacent to the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Newmarket Community Hospital, which Morgan Sindall also delivered for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in December 2024.
Alister Broadberry, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties, said: “This facility represents a major investment in the health and wellbeing of communities across West Suffolk. We’re very much looking forward to working in close partnership with the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust again to deliver modern, efficient clinical spaces that not only improve patient experiences but increase local capacity. Something that’s so important for the local community here in Newmarket.
“This facility will make a genuine, long-lasting difference for the region, and we’re exceptionally proud to be part of that.”
Thomas Osborne, CDC Project and Operational Service Manager for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The further expansion of diagnostic services at the Newmarket Community Hospital is a wonderful opportunity to provide the care our patients need, by creating essential capacity for the future.
“It’s also an exciting opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help reduce waiting times, improve patient outcomes, and enhance patient experience. Feedback from patients and staff about the existing CDC building has been really positive, so it’s exciting to work with Morgan Sindall again to emulate this success with the expansion”.
