University College London Hospitals – Grafton Way Building

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust needed funding for phase four of its strategic redevelopment programme.

The project included a pioneering Proton Beam Therapy Centre and world-class haematology and surgical facilities.

Complex projects, high stakes

Phase four was one of the UK’s most ambitious healthcare projects. It included a Proton Beam Therapy Centre – one of only two in the NHS – the future home of Europe’s largest blood disorder centre, new haematology wards and expanded critical care and surgical facilities.

Bringing this vision to life required detailed costing, careful sequencing and tight coordination across multiple high-tech facilities, underground construction and strict timelines.

We provided cost management and building services support from early feasibility through to completion. Our team developed a comprehensive cost plan, assessed affordability and lifecycle costs over 60 years and shaped both the Outline and Full Business Cases.

We supported every stage of the £350 million programme – from decanting existing NHS buildings and diverting services to decommissioning, demolition, construction and commissioning. With so many moving parts, we kept risk controlled, costs clear and progress steady.

Setting new standards in healthcare design

Completed in 2022, the centre spans 13 storeys, six below ground. The basement houses the proton therapy facility with four treatment rooms and a particle accelerator. Above sit eight operating theatres, a short-stay surgical ward, MRI and CT scanners and a clinical care unit. The upper floors provide world-class haematology inpatient care for NHS and private patients.

Projects this complex never run in isolation. Every space, service and sequence – from the accelerator to the wards above – had to work together to create a building that functions seamlessly for staff and patients.

Supporting people and the planet

The Proton Beam Therapy Centre treats around 650 patients each year, delivering highly targeted therapy that protects healthy tissue. The co-located haematology ward supports around 3,500 patients annually.

Sustainability was built in from the start. BREEAM Excellent was achieved through a combined heat and power system, solar panels, a high‑performance façade and efficient energy systems, helping lower operational carbon in one of the NHS’s most advanced facilities.