Major healthcare project is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme and uses a modularised Hospital 2.0 system, with a human-centred design approach.
London— Perkins&Will has been appointed to design and develop plans for a replacement James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, serving as lead consultant. The project is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme (NHP) and is among those prioritised for rebuilding due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), a material now linked to structural safety risks in ageing buildings.
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is delivering the project alongside The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn within a single programme across the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
Government funding was approved in early 2025 based on a masterplan and initial design developed by the London studio of global design firm Perkins&Will. Following a competitive process involving stakeholder input and formal evaluation, Perkins&Will will provide architectural services, act as a lead consultant and contract administrator, and lead a multidisciplinary project team across all stages of the RIBA Work Plan.
“It’s significant for James Paget Hospital, and for the wider programme, to be able to continue to work with Perkins&Will on the design and development of the new hospital to meet the needs of communities in Great Yarmouth and Waveney,” says Martin John, strategic director for the New Hospital Programme in the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group. “We look forward to building our partnership with Perkins&Will further – deploying their expertise in masterplanning, architecture and technical design – with input from our staff, patients and communities to realise the vision for James Paget’s new hospital.”
A human-centred design approach
Perkins&Will’s proposals for James Paget’s new hospital have been developed in alignment with the NHP’s Hospital 2.0 guidelines, underpinned by a holistic approach to sustainability and regenerative design that informs the vision for the new campus. The design adopts Modern Methods of Construction, utilising repeatable designs within a standardised Hospital 2.0 approach.
“The redevelopment of James Paget University Hospital is critically important for Great Yarmouth and the wider region, delivering modern healthcare facilities that are fit for today and resilient for the future,” says Gonzalo Vargas, health practice leader of Perkins&Will’s London studio. “While aligned with the Hospital 2.0 model, our approach also shows how it can work in practice, demonstrating that standardisation and human-centred design are mutually reinforcing.
By focusing on spaces beyond the modularised clinical core, including arrival areas, concourse, gardens and staff environments, we are shaping how people feel as well as how they move through the hospital. This is a flagship project for Perkins&Will London’s growing healthcare portfolio, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration to deliver a hospital the Trust, its staff and the local community can be proud of.”
The masterplan sets out a long-term vision for a healthcare and education campus that can evolve over time. While the main RAAC hospital will be demolished, a number of James Paget’s existing buildings will be retained, including both older structures requiring refurbishment and recently completed facilities. The masterplan integrates these buildings into a coherent framework that connects existing and new healthcare assets with future developments.
Key features of the masterplan include:
A generous and welcoming arrival space at the front of the new building, with high-quality public realm, pedestrian-priority landscaping, space for community events, and convenient patient and visitor drop-off facilities.
Separation of vehicular movement to the perimeter of the site, creating a safe and green internal campus environment.
Enhanced use of existing landscape features and maximised opportunities for biodiversity.
Creation of a new public park at the heart of the campus, providing a community recreational amenity and supporting future mixed-use development in the area.
Integrated landscape, drainage and car parking strategies to reduce reliance on underground infrastructure.
The project will be one of the largest construction schemes in the area for decades and is expected to act as a catalyst for economic growth and employment opportunities across the region.
James Paget Hospital recently received approval of its Strategic Outline Case (SOC) by the Department of Health and Social Care Joint Investment Committee, a significant milestone in planning for its new hospital as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
Both the James Paget and The Queen Elizabeth’s schemes have commenced work on the Outline Business Case stage of planning, which requires detailed designs and costing plans for the new builds. Both new hospitals are expected to open to patients in 2032/33.
Project team
Perkins&Will (Architect, Lead Consultant)
WSP (MEP/CSE, Specialisms)
Plan A Consultants (Design Management)
Allies and Morrison (Landscape)
BVN (Design Peer Review)
Portland Design (Wayfinding and Art Strategy)
Aligned Design Studio (Industrialisation)
iM2 (Building Control and BSA Advisory)
Tricon (Catering)