Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Willmott Dixon worked closely with the Trust on the construction of a new three-storey main entrance and associated new infrastructure including a multi-storey car park.

The new main entrance has level links to lay-by parking for ambulance, local buses and taxis. It also has direct access into the car parks for parking and disabled parking.

The entrance includes general reception facilities, retail use, and office accommodation.

The site was constrained and heavily congested with multiple contractors working concurrently.

Keys to success

Working closely with the Trust and the consultancy team through workshops, consultations and surveys, to identify existing conditions, constraints and restrictions.

Early engagement with project stakeholders, to foster working in partnership, developed lines of communication and procedures to administer the NEC form of contract.

Planning pre-construction activities to fit within the construction process including timely procurement of subcontractors and long-lead-in elements such as the bespoke control barriers and specialist escalators/lifts within the new main entrance.

Creation of a temporary new main entrance by ‘fitting out’ two heavy duty cargo transport containers, and providing a safe access route for patients, staff and visitors between our main work areas and ‘live’ operational departments.

A specially designated ‘blue light’ route away from our main operational centre and designated pedestrian and traffic flow access routes around the hospital site.

Early identification of the standards achieved, with a clear and transparent inspection and testing strategy to guarantee and audit compliance. Sample boards and materials samples for approval by the Trust early on in the development.

The work represented great teamwork to construct such a major project at a hospital without impacting on the vital, lifesaving work which went on around it daily.

Ian Johnson, chairman, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust