Plans to build a world-leading new cancer centre in Wales have taken a step closer to reality after planners approved reserved matters associated with the outline approval awarded in 2017.

The ACORN consortium, led by developer and investor, Kajima, with lead designer, White Arkitekter, is celebrating winning approval of outstanding planning issues from Cardiff Council.

The proposals for the UK’s greenest hospital are for a highly-sustainable, elegant new cancer centre for patients, staff, and the local community.

And the design will be integrated into a natural setting, respecting the existing ecological habitats and landscape features.

Environmentally friendly

Velindre Cancer Centre is being developed to comply with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to become the most-sustainable hospital in the UK.

The design utilises low embodied carbon, bio-based materials that support a circular economy and promote health and wellbeing. Timber and other natural materials such as lime and clay renders, which are breathable, flexible, and anti-fungal, will deliver a natural calming environment for staff, patients, and their families/visitors.

White is proud to be creating spaces that support the fantastic work of the NHS and we look forward to bringing the scheme to life in close collaboration with the trust, consortium, and local community over the coming years

And the scheme will be all electric to supporting low energy demand and low operational carbon, with a strategy in place to reduce site waste through offsite manufacture of components, minimise transportation, and create greater efficiencies in the construction and maintenance of the hospital.

In addition, Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) systems will be integrated that focus on ‘roof to river’ with no plastic in the ground and a swale network and retention pond which form attractive amenity areas.

Back to nature

Externally, the façade design, based on a standard grid, will enable internal spaces to be easily reconfigured without the need for costly structural alterations – allowing the building to respond to space requirements of future innovation in treatment and equipment.

Importantly, the design has also been developed to ensure minimum impact on the site, with the landscape strategy keeping the site as wild as possible through the retention of existing habitats and creation of new habitats alongside landscaped spaces such as an orchard with Welsh apple varieties and a community kitchen garden.

The scheme also seeks to create informal play areas and a multitude of walking, cycling, and relaxation areas.

Michael Woodford, partner at White Arkitekter, said: “Securing planning consent for this exemplary new hospital is excellent news – not only will it provide cutting-edge facilities, but in a wholly-sustainable manner.

“White is proud to be creating spaces that support the fantastic work of the NHS and we look forward to bringing the scheme to life in close collaboration with the trust, consortium, and local community over the coming years.”

A community benefits offer will also see many jobs created, apprentices trained, school pupils engaged, substantial community initiatives, and engagement over the course of the scheme’s development.

Community benefits

And ACORN will establish the IMPACT Community Benefits Delivery Plan that is described by five key headings:

• Futures: Invest in skills and employment to enable local communities to achieve their potential
• Thrive: Contribute to the wellbeing of South Wales communities and their environments, promoting good health and environmental sustainability
• Prosper: Promote SME and social business engagement, investing in local communities through the supply chain
• Embrace: Foster inclusion and promote equality and diversity across the workforce and local communities
• Think: Establish mechanisms that support collaborative learning to ensure the partnership builds on what works

Additional community benefits proposed include a carbon literacy training programme, employment of a ranger, a ‘grow and prosper’ social business programme, social business makers market, and a tool library.

The Acorn consortium was the successful participant following the conclusion of a robust procurement process run by Velindre University NHS Trust.

The consortium includes Sacyr UK as the main contractor, Abrdn, Kier Facilities Services, White Arkitekter, BAC, Hydrock, Ingho, MJ Medical, Turley, Studio Response, Camlins Landscape Architects, RSK, Osborne Clarke, Operis, and CloudNine.