NHS Lanarkshire has submitted the full business case for the new University Hospital Monklands to the Scottish Government.
“The hospital plans are trailblazing in their ambitions to use digital technology to benefit patients, visitors and staff. They’re also designed to achieve our sustainability goals through being net zero carbon for both construction and operation,” said Louise Long, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire.
The proposed hospital, which will be built at Wester Moffat in Airdrie, is scheduled to begin construction in 2026 and open its doors to patients in 2031.
If the proposal goes as scheduled, the completed facility is expected to become one of Scotland’s most advanced, sustainable acute healthcare facilities.
Next steps
With the business case now with ministers, the project enters its most crucial stage yet.
Government approval would pave the way for procurement, early works and the full build programme to begin.
The facility’s transformative design
The new facility is intended to replace the ageing existing Monklands Hospital with a purpose-built centre designed around modern healthcare delivery, digital innovation and environmental sustainability.
All current services, including emergency care, critical care, planned inpatient services and a wide range of specialist departments, are planned to transfer to the new site.
The services include cancer services, infectious diseases, renal medicine, orthopaedics, urology, and ear-nose-throat care, consolidating major clinical specialities under one roof.
A key element of the design is the creation of streamlined outpatient and ambulatory care pathways, with the outpatient departments on a single level to reduce travel within the building.
New digital infrastructure
The new hospital is being developed as a fully digital facility, supporting electronic records, integrated diagnostics platforms, remote monitoring, and other technologies geared toward improving experience and safety for both patients and staff.
Designed to achieve net-zero goals
The new Monklands will be one of the first major acute hospitals in Scotland aiming to achieve net-zero carbon in both construction and operation.
The build will use high-performance materials, renewable energy systems, and low-carbon transport planning.
As part of its practical design considerations, the project includes significantly expanded parking capacity, featuring a multi-storey facility and surface parking.
Improved site access is also planned through the East Airdrie Link Road, being developed with the local council to ensure better connectivity for patients, staff and visitors.
Scotland continues to lead on sustainable healthcare, following the delivery of the net-zero Balfour Hospital in Orkney and the ongoing retrofit of existing facilities to cut emissions across the NHS estate.
Employment opportunities for locals
NHS Lanarkshire’s project team has highlighted forthcoming opportunities for local employment, apprenticeships, training and supply-chain involvement through a community benefits programme embedded in the procurement process.
On completion, the decommissioning of the current hospital site could also enable new community-focused redevelopment options.