Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has launched a public consultation to help shape the first phase of a major redevelopment masterplan for the St Mary's Hospital site in Paddington.
The consultation, opened on 12 February, invites patients, local communities, Trust staff and residents to share views on early masterplan principles that will guide detailed design work for a transformed hospital and wider estate.
It runs until 20 March and includes a series of local “pop-up” events and an online survey to gather feedback.
Response to estate pressures
The public consultation comes amid ongoing pressures to modernise NHS hospital estates, including the removal of dangerous RAAC from seven sites, with a further 12 hospitals expected to complete work by March 2026.
RAAC, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, is a lightweight, prefabricated material used in construction that can weaken over time.
Essential maintenance backlogs have risen faster than the Trust’s ability to fund repairs, including RAAC concerns in the main outpatient building and foundational problems in the historic Mint building.
Plans to modernise as part of the New Hospital Programme
The redevelopment of St Mary’s Hospital is part of the wider New Hospital Programme, which was recently reset to prioritise deliverability and to include buildings affected by RAAC in its future plans.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust began planning and design work for St. Mary’s Hospital last year, with initial funding released to support the next phase ahead of future construction.
Trust executives stress that maintaining safe, high-quality clinical environments is a priority, and the masterplan is intended to provide a long-term solution to ageing infrastructure, enabling care to be delivered in settings fit for future needs.
Vision for a future-ready site
Under the emerging masterplan principles, the Trust proposes a new, taller hospital built on a smaller footprint on the eastern part of the site.
This approach is designed to keep existing services operational during construction, while reorganising services, research facilities and staff areas more efficiently around patient needs.
The proposed hospital would include over 800 beds and a rooftop helipad to support rapid access for major trauma cases, ensuring the site retains its role as a key trauma centre.
The Trust also wants to explore opportunities to expand Paddington Life Sciences, the local health-science cluster developed with partners including Imperial College London.
This could support economic growth, create jobs and skills opportunities for local people, and attract further investment that could help offset redevelopment costs.
What’s next?
Feedback from this first phase of consultation will help shape detailed design proposals ahead of a planned planning application submission in spring 2027.
The Trust says further engagement opportunities will follow as proposals evolve, offering patients, staff and residents more chances to influence the design of both the new hospital and the wider estate vision.