Skip to content
Contact
This is a mobile onlu button

Healthcare

Papworth Hospital

Papworth Hospital required an extension to its private patient Varrier Jones ward to add 12 extra beds, ancillary areas, and an outpatient department — delivered by Actiform under the P21+ scheme as a fully compliant, structurally complex modular solution worth £1.6m.

Expertise
  • Modular healthcare construction
  • Structural design and off-site manufacture
  • P21+ procurement and GMP delivery
  • HTM-compliant clinical environment design
Deliverables
  • 12-bed extension to the Varrier Jones private patient ward
  • Ground-floor ancillary and outpatient areas
  • Full structural, M&E, and fit-out within a 24-week programme
  • BREEAM pre-assessment achieving 'Excellent' certification

Challenge

Solution

  1. 01/

    Challenge

    Papworth Hospital needed to expand its private patient ward capacity quickly, without disrupting live clinical operations, within the cost and programme constraints of the P21+ procurement framework — and with a brief that evolved significantly throughout the design development phase.

    Solution

    Actiform engaged in Design Team Meetings with all stakeholders over a six-month period, absorbing brief changes — including the removal of the original OPD and introduction of car parking below the ward — while holding the GMP budget and achieving 100% scope delivery within the agreed programme.

  2. 02/

    Challenge

    The site presented complex structural constraints: parts of the building had to be cantilevered over live service ducts, the ground floor footprint was smaller than the first floor to accommodate the car park, and the structure had to match existing adjacent floor levels precisely.

    Solution

    Actiform designed a steel structural frame that carried first-floor modules over the car park area, manufacturing units to different heights to align with existing floor levels. The cantilevered design addressed the service duct constraints while maintaining structural integrity to Eurocode BS EN standards.

  3. 03/

    Challenge

    Integrating all M&E services, meeting HTM standards, and managing a live hospital environment required tight coordination across the entire construction programme — while the Trust continued to place additional works orders mid-programme.

    Solution

    Actiform coordinated M&E installations throughout the DTM process, evaluating alternatives including CHP systems, varied AC specifications, and PIR-sensitive lighting. All construction and fit-out was completed within 24 weeks, with day-to-day programme management absorbing over £70k of Trust-instructed additional works. The finished ward met all relevant HTMs and the new L2 2014 standards.

Our Approach

Actiform managed the project from initial Design Team Meetings through to a snag-free handover — delivering design services, structural manufacture, M&E integration, and full clinical fit-out. Working under the P21+ framework, Actiform provided a GMP bid and final figure that was honoured in full despite the scope evolving across a six-month design development period.

The structural steel frame was designed to carry the first-floor modular units over the existing car park, with cantilevered sections spanning live service ducts. Units were manufactured to bespoke heights to match adjacent floor levels, reflecting the design precision required in a constrained, live hospital environment.

A BREEAM pre-assessment was completed during the DTM process, achieving an ‘Excellent’ certification score. Sustainability options including CHP plant, alternative AC specifications, and PIR lighting were all evaluated before the Trust opted to redirect value into the fabric of the build. All financial and H&S risks identified during the DTM process were designed out prior to construction.

At handover, the H&S file was presented alongside a fully commissioned, snag-free building. The ward complies with all relevant HTMs and meets the L2 2014 standards. It is subject to a 24-month defect period under P21+.

The Results

£1.6mProject value

12Additional clinical beds delivered

24Weeks construction programme

100%Budget and programme achieved, including £70k of additional Trust-instructed works

The whole team at Actiform provide an outstanding level of customer service. Their knowledge of modular building and taking our design thoughts and turning these working collaboratively into completed projects makes working with the team very enjoyable. Actiform have a very good network of dependable third-party trades which complement the experience and push the art of the possible in terms of innovation. Not really sure what you could do better as when we raise issues they are dealt with in a timely manner, and you have good processes to ensure we never experience the same issue twice.

Steve Wilcock

Chief Operating Officer, TAC Healthcare