Plans for a major redevelopment at North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) are making 'substantial progress', with construction expected to begin by 2028, hospital bosses have confirmed in a report.
Masterplan for Sustainable Health Campus
A masterplan for the hospital site in north Manchester, led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, aims to create a new 'sustainable health campus', alongside a residential community and space for businesses. The rebuild was confirmed by the government last year following a Manchester Evening News campaign.
The hospital facility sits in an area with some of the 'highest socio-economic disadvantage and poorest health outcomes in the country'. Work is moving ahead on the design and business case for the project, which has a budget of up to £1.5bn.
Part of Government's New Hospital Programme
NMGH is part of the government's New Hospital Programme, a scheme aimed at upgrading 'crumbling' NHS facilities around the country. A report published on Manchester council's website this week stated: 'Hospital design and business case development has focused on population planning, agreeing a forecast of future patient numbers, the services to be delivered in the new healthcare facilities and the plans for new ways of working.'
'This work has enabled the Trust to agree the principles of a scheme (aligned to the ministerial announcement of January 2025) that will include the design and construction of a new state-of-the-art digitally enabled acute hospital building and a standalone purpose-built outpatient building delivered together as a single project.'
Progress on Enabling Works
Last November, NHS chiefs told a Manchester council meeting that phase one of enabling works at the hospital were complete, with several outdated facilities vacated and services moved to new buildings. A new multi-storey car park has opened, as well as the new North View mental health centre.
Health bosses have long called for a new NMGH, after staff described it as a '19th Century workhouse', with ceilings collapsing around Victorian walls. The project will see facilities dating back to the 1870s finally leave regular NHS use, with a 'healthy neighbourhood' becoming the cornerstone of Crumpsall, as job opportunities, research facilities, and new housing expand.
Community and Economic Impact
Councillor Thomas Robinson, Manchester council's lead on health and adult social care, said: 'North Manchester's healthcare-led programme of regeneration is more than just new buildings - it's about improving health outcomes for residents, transforming communities and creating life-changing opportunities and jobs for Manchester people.'
'It's one of the most ambitious regeneration programmes in the country and it's great news that it continues to gather pace as part of the first wave of the Government's refreshed new hospital programme. This is a £6bn opportunity over the next two decades that will address long-standing health inequalities while also delivering new housing, green space and community investment - alongside major economic and social benefits.'
'The redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital is a cornerstone of this vision, but the impact will be felt by our communities across north Manchester - and across the wider city. Since 2021, regeneration projects linked to the programme have generated nearly £32m in social value, secured great jobs for 631 local residents, supported 188 apprenticeships and created 5,000 jobs in total - all paid at least the Living Wage.'
Trust Chief Welcomes Progress
Darren Banks, interim deputy trust chief executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, welcoming the report, said: 'Our new hospital is at the heart of a once-in-a-generation programme to transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and our staff, while supporting wider redevelopment across North Manchester.'
'As outlined in the report to Manchester's health scrutiny committee, we are making good progress in these early stages, with design work underway for a state-of-the-art hospital, which will be one of the most digitally advanced in the country when it opens.'
'We will create modern facilities designed around the needs of patients, colleagues and our local communities. We will also focus on preventing disease and tackling the root causes of ill health, using innovation to improve health outcomes for generations to come.'
'Alongside the healthcare benefits, the programme will support jobs and skills development, kickstarting economic growth and wider regeneration. We are committed to working with our partners and the local community to deliver this ambitious programme and will provide further updates as our plans progress.'
