Earlier this summer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that there was to be a review of the New Hospital Programme. You may recall that we welcomed this review as a timely opportunity to ensure the programme is on the soundest possible footing for delivery.
The review is being undertaken at pace for a swift conclusion on the changes to be made ensuring an affordable and realistic delivery schedule. This will include a series of options and recommendations for the overall size and phasing of the programme for Ministers to consider.
Some schemes are out of the scope of the review. These include all RAAC schemes and those that have approved Full Business Cases for their main construction, and any associated phases that have specific commitments. These 21 schemes represent a £multi-billion commitment to investment by the government, demonstrating that whatever the wider outcomes of the review, NHP remains a significant investment warranting a transformational delivery approach and industry-wide collaboration.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Review, plus a list of Schemes that are in and out of Scope can now be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-terms-of-reference
Whilst the review is ongoing, we are continuing to progress with planning for the launch of the main works partnership framework procurement. We are working towards an SQ launch later in 2024, and further details will follow once the necessary approvals have been secured from government