Merit has been chosen by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust Foundation to deliver an advanced Elective Hub using modern methods of construction (MMC)
The project is part of a £25m NHS initiative. The initiative involves the construction of a two-story structure with six advanced theatres (three ultra-clean & three robotic) and supplementary services at Solihull Hospital.
Merit will use advanced 4D BIM modeling technology and a product-centred method to simultaneously work on offsite and onsite tasks. Piling and foundation work has begun today.
The developments will improve the hospital’s capacity for elective procedures, allowing 15,000 treatments in the hospital each year.
MMC projects achieve 45% less material use compared to traditional construction methods
The project will look to make the most of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to improve efficiency and sustainability. A KLH Sustainability study showed MMC projects achieve 45% less material use and over 50% less waste compared to traditional methods.
Manufacturing construction reduces waste through improved monitoring and repetition. KLH Sustainability’s study shows modular construction reduces material use by 45% and waste generation by over 50% compared to traditional methods.
Merit will use the upgraded FLEXI POD® V5.1 Healthcare platform. FLEXI POD® combines modern construction methods and digitally made offsite fit-out through Pre-Assembled Module (PAM) approach.
Offsite construction techniques will speed up the construction of the Elective Hub
The Elective Hub is set to be finished by May 2024. Merit aims to complete the project within just 10 months from the start on-site. This timeline includes everything from concept design and planning to commissioning.
Around 81% of the new elective hub will be built offsite at Merit’s manufacturing facility in Cramlington.
The Elective Hub will be a sustainable space
The Elective Hub facility is designed to achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating and is equipped for zero Scope 1 Carbon emissions.
The project follows several successful healthcare and bioscience developments from Merit, including the £35m community hospital in Berwick.
“At a time when waiting lists are at record highs, we are really proud to be supporting the NHS with this landmark contract which will allow a significant number of people access to the treatment they need,” said Tony Wells, CEO of Merit.
“We have re-invented our entire company around a proprietary integrated product platform so that we can design and manufacture technically complex facilities in our Cramlington-based factories to deliver repeatable successful project outcomes, from faster timescales to cost certainty and sustainability,” he concluded.
