Design Team Appointed for Cornwall’s New Women and Children’s Hospital and Pathology Hub

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has confirmed the appointment of a new design team to deliver Cornwall’s long-awaited Women and Children’s Hospital and a new pathology hub at the Royal Cornwall Hospital site in Truro.

The development, part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, is being described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for healthcare in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Design team confirmed

Following a competitive process, the contract has been awarded to a consortium led by TODD Architects, working alongside White Arkitekter, Lavigne Lonsdale, Arup and Turley.

Together, the group brings experience in healthcare design, sustainability and modern methods of construction.

The hospital will now move into its next stage, with designs being drawn up to support a refreshed Outline Business Case for government approval in spring 2026.

A new location on site

Earlier this year, RCHT confirmed its “Preferred Way Forward” for the new hospital’s location. The facility is planned to be built on the west side of the site, near the Trelawny Wing entrance.

To create space, the current microbiology service will be moved into a new central pathology hub, which will also form part of the development.

Who’s involved?

• TODD Architects bring experience from projects such as the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex in Northern Ireland.

• White Arkitekter, known for their sustainable, human-centred designs, have worked on the Cambridge Children’s Hospital and the Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital in Sweden.

• Lavigne Lonsdale, a Cornwall-based practice, previously designed the Critical Care Healing Garden at Royal Cornwall Hospital. They will ensure the new buildings integrate sensitively into the landscape.

• Arup will lead engineering design, focusing on net zero carbon strategies and digital integration.

• Turley, the planning consultant, will lead on planning strategy and permissions, ensuring alignment with Cornwall Council policies.

What they said

Matthew Hird, Head of Healthcare at TODD Architects and Design Team Lead, said:

“We are proud to have been appointed to deliver this important and visionary project for Cornwall. The new Women and Children’s Hospital represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a truly integrated family-centred healthcare facility for the region. Our team is looking forward to working closely with NHS partners, stakeholders, and the local community to ensure the hospital reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of those it will serve.”

Brian Johnson, Senior Responsible Officer for the Women and Children’s Programme and Director of Estates and Facilities at RCHT, added:

“This is a hugely important and exciting moment for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. With our talented design team now in place, and with the continued support of the New Hospital Programme, we can now move forward at pace to deliver our new Women and Children’s Hospital, and fulfil our vision to construct a modern, innovative, and digitally enabled building, fit for the 21st century.”

Steve Williamson, Chief Executive at RCHT, said:

“The new Women and Children’s Hospital Programme represents the biggest investment ever in healthcare in Cornwall and will help to transform the way RCHT delivers acute maternity services, and acute women and children’s services, for generations to come.

“An additional aspiration for this investment is to ensure that the new hospital becomes a source of civic pride, while also making a meaningful contribution to the long-term economic and social prosperity of Cornwall.”

Morag Stuart, Chief Programme Officer for the New Hospital Programme, commented:

“The appointment of this experienced and highly skilled design team marks an important step forward for the New Hospital Programme in Cornwall. The new Women and Children’s Hospital and pathology hub will transform the way care is delivered for patients and families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, creating modern, sustainable facilities that meet the needs of local communities for decades to come. We look forward to working closely with Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and the design team to help turn this ambitious vision into reality.”