Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Medical Architecture to develop an Outline Business Case for the removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from the Rockingham Wing.
The wing houses maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services.
RAAC, a lightweight form of concrete used in many hospitals built between the 1950s and 1980s.
The concrete was discoverd in the wing in 2023. RAAC is prone to sudden structural failure as it ages, making it a critical safety risk in healthcare buildings.
“Where only part of an NHS building contains RAAC, but other elements remain structurally sound, there is a clear temptation to replace only the affected components, such as the roof, as a pragmatic, cost-effective fix,” Mark Nugent, Associate Director at Medical Architecture, told Building Better Healthcare.
“However, the roof often supports building services, and therefore these will often require replacement.”
National push to replace ageing estates
Under the New Hospital Programme, the NHS has been taking steps to prioritise replacing RAAC from seven hospitals.
The removal of RAAC was originally scheduled to be completed by 2030, but the programme is now behind schedule, with replacements not expected until 2032–33.
The seven hospitals are: West Suffolk, Hinchingbrooke, James Paget, Queen Elizabeth (King’s Lynn), Leighton, Airedale, and Frimley Park.
Kettering General Hospital is not included in the 7 prioritised hospitals.
“The 7 hospitals have been prioritised because they were most affected by RAAC. KGH has confirmed RAAC on the Rockingham Wing building only,” representatives from the Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust told Building Better Healthcare.
How does RAAC impact the sustainability of a hospital?
Nugent said that removing RAAC is not only is a matter of safety, but also improves the building’s thermal performance and energy efficiency.
“At this point, upgrades to the thermal envelope, doors, windows, roof and services, alongside asbestos removal and temporary decant costs, can quickly escalate overall expenditure,” said Nugent.
He added that many historic hospital layouts no longer meet modern clinical standards, meaning partial fixes may not deliver long-term value.
“Existing layouts may struggle to accommodate modern clinical models and equipment, leading to sub-optimal healthcare environments and potential clinical compromise.”
Where site capacity allows, Nugent said a phased replacement of existing accommodation can provide better long-term value.
“This approach can deliver a compliant, thermally efficient building aligned with NHS net zero ambitions and capable of reducing operational costs over time.”
Medical Architecture, acting as design lead, will work with a multi-disciplinary team including Strategic Healthcare Planning, WT Partnership, CPW, Couch Consulting Engineers, Lichfields and PJA to ensure all options are properly evaluated.