Henry Brothers Construction has begun construction on a new £12.8m urgent treatment centre (UTC) at Leicester Royal Infirmary, marking a key step in wider redevelopment plans by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
The project forms part of the Trust’s long-term “Future Hospitals” programme, which aims to modernise healthcare facilities and improve patient flow across its sites.
The UTC was announced in December 2025 and will replace the existing minor injuries and minor illnesses unit on the hospital estate, allowing patients to access same-day treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.
Early groundwork activity is now underway, with hoardings in place and excavation of the site progressing in preparation for the new facility.
According to the Trust, the development will include updated clinical spaces and improved infrastructure to support both patients and staff.
Further construction phases will continue over the coming months, with the urgent treatment centre expected to be completed in 2027.
“Breaking ground on this new urgent treatment centre marks a significant milestone. We’re proud to be working at the forefront of the health construction sector,” said Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction.
The investment forms part of more than £50m in funding secured by the Trust from NHS England and the New Hospital Programme to modernise urgent care and hospital facilities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
NHS England approved £12.8m for the UTC, while a further £39m from the New Hospital Programme will fund enabling works across UHL’s hospital sites.
The investment will also support the planned relocation of services including hearing and balance services from Knighton Street to the East Midlands Planned Care Centre in early 2027.
Over the last 12 months, investment across the estate has supported work on the East Midlands Planned Care Centre and Endoscopy Unit at Leicester General Hospital, a rehabilitation unit at Preston Lodge.
The funding also supports long-term plans for a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, with construction expected to begin in 2032.
A Hinckley community diagnostic centre was delivered by Darwin Group in June 2025.
Last July, the Trust also submitted a planning application with Leicester City Council seeking permission to extend the Osborne building at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The Trust sought to develop a standalone first-floor pharmacy extension, proposed to support the preparation of sterile injectable medicines.
There were also plans to develop a £10m same‑day surgery unit in Hinckley, but as of February those plans are now facing cancellation, with NHS officials citing rising costs and lower-than-expected demand for services.