The redevelopment of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital will improve the facilities and access to vital care for children and young people affected by cancer.
Phase 4 of the project is being supported by RSK Transport Planning (now part of SCP, an RSK company), which is working with the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust to develop a sustainable travel plan for the new centre. The planned redevelopment of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Frontage Building involves the demolition of the existing building, and the construction of a replacement eight-storey hospital to provide a new Children’s Cancer Centre.
Ian Wickett, Senior associate director at SCP, explained: “The transport and travel plans will support the Trust in working towards more sustainable travel options. The RSK Transport Planning team within SCP will be looking at ways to incorporate active travel modes, such as attractive walking routes from rail stations, and improved cycle parking and cycle loan schemes, to encourage patients, clinicians, and visitors, to access the hospital by more active means. This not only contributes towards the Trust’s Net Zero ambitions, but it is also of great benefit for staff and patient health.”
In developing the travel plans for the hospital, consideration needed to be given to post-COVID working practices and their impact on travel habits. The Trust explained: “As a result of the pandemic, the hospital, like many other healthcare providers, has moved towards virtual appointments for some patients, and has increased homeworking for staff. This will have an impact on the proposed scheme and on the construction, which is anticipated to partially close the street and establish a temporary entrance.”
RSK is not only supporting the hospital in developing a sustainable travel plan for the site, but also offering additional expertise across a suite of disciplines and businesses. Diarmuid O Seaneachain, associate director at ADAS, an RSK company, and RSK’s Project manager, said: “We have been able to tap into expertise from across the RSK Group to help the Trust deliver its plans. ADAS, RSK Land and Development, RSK Acoustics, RSK Air Quality, RSK Consents Solutions, and RSK Geosciences, have all provided their own niche expertise to help in the delivery of the project. Operations ranging from archaeology, wayleave, and arboriculture to environmental assessments and acoustic and vibration assessments, air quality testing, ecology and flood risk assessment, are all vital in developing future-proof and purposeful buildings. These assessments are especially important in the context of a hospital care facility, which will provide life-saving services for many years to come.”
Once complete, the scheme will enable the Trust to deliver improved care for children diagnosed with cancer, offering increased safe spaces for patients and their families during their time at the hospital. New facilities, including classrooms and gardens, combined with improved delivery of treatment and increased capacity, will bring tangible benefits to the Great Ormond Street Hospital community.
