Peterborough Hospital was originally an enquiry for one roof-light and has now grown to several more elements of work and structure.

The builders and the Peterborough and Stamford Hospital Trust explored the possibility of using ETFE roof-lights over a small area of the hospital in comparison with a regular glass system, including a site visit to other hospital locations. A special mention must go to our friends at the Manor Hospital in Oxford who kindly offered the party of hospital trust executives a guided tour of our installation of two ETFE roofs that were installed back in 2005.

The executives were impressed with what they saw, so design changes have been made and further awards have been forthcoming. Working closely with Brookfield’s, the main contractors, and undergoing their vigorous audit and pre-qualification, Novum has emerged with more work than was anticipated in the early days of the initial enquiry.

The Greater Peterborough Health Investment Plan (GPHIP) is a £335 million project to build Peterborough City Hospital, the City Care Centre and the Cavell Centre (mental health unit) in Peterborough by 2010. It is a joint venture between the hospital trust, Peterborough Primary Care Trust, and Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust. It is lead by PFI consortium Progress Health.

The exciting PFI development is currently being constructed on the existing Edith Cavell Hospital site on the outskirts of Peterborough with a view to it becoming the main Peterborough City Hospital as the facilities from the current city hospital are transferred to this new development on completion. It will include 612 inpatient beds, an emergency care centre, a high-tech diagnostics unit, women and children’s unit, cancer unit, specialist rehabilitation unit, renal dialysis and a multi-disciplinary training centre. It is due to open in 2010. Following the opening, the existing Edith Cavell Hospital will be demolished and final landscaping and car parking will be completed in 2011.

It is a massive undertaking and Novum is proud to be part of the team working on this prestigious development, which is being lead by main contractor Brookfield Construction UK.

The initial order for design development was minor and this has now grown to a substantial order. Due to the service to the contract team and proactive interaction with the main contractor, architect and client, Novum is now being asked for its input on other areas of the development, which if successful could add even further to the sales secured from this project.