Construction of the new Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has reached a major milestone with the arrival and installation of 159 structural steel modules at the town centre site.
The £54m MMC-based project is being delivered by MTX Contracts using a hybrid modern methods of construction (MMC) approach, with the two-storey building manufactured in sections offsite while groundworks progress on site.
The modules are now being craned into position to create the building's structural frame and weatherproof envelope ahead of cladding and internal fit-out works.
In addition to the structural units, electrical and mechanical service modules are being manufactured and factory-tested off-site before delivery and assembly, helping to accelerate the construction programme, reduce site activity and improve quality assurance.
MTX told Building Better Healthcare that the architectural lead for the pre-construction team is Chiso Siminoni, who has been at MTX for more than 3 years, along with more than a dozen specialist healthcare architects from MTX.
The CDC is being developed on the former site of The Place and Pitsea Library and is scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Once complete, it will become the largest CDC in mid and south Essex, providing more than 120,000 additional diagnostic tests and health checks each year.
The facility will house MRI and CT scanners, X-ray services, blood testing facilities and an eight-room endoscopy suite.
Alongside healthcare services, the development will include a wellbeing hub, activity centre, dedicated community space and a new library.
The project is being delivered through a partnership between Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Essex County Council and Basildon Council.
“Our hybrid Modern Methods of Construction build process delivers high-quality, compliant new facilities for the NHS and is underpinned by our own proven design and project management skills,” said David Hartley, Managing Director of MTX Contracts.
Acc ording to the latest government figures, more than six million tests and procedures were carried out at 159 CDC across England in the nine months to December 2025, highlighting the growing role of the facilities in expanding access to diagnostic services and reducing pressure on hospitals.
The facility is being built on the footprint of a former community centre and library in the heart of Pitsea's shopping district, reflecting the NHS's drive to deliver diagnostic services closer to where people live and work.
“Whenever we are awarded a CDC project, the first priority is making the design fit, and most importantly, work well, within the chosen location,” said architectural lead Chiso Siminoni.
