Ramboll to lead design for new children’s cancer principal treatment centre in London

Appointed by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Ramboll will provide a full range of multi-disciplinary advisory and design services, with subconsultants providing further specialist support. This includes collaboration with ADP Architecture for architectural and lead designer services, with further specialist services from GL Hearn, Art in Site, Thornton Tomasetti and Safer Sphere. In line with the Trust’s ambitions, the project will involve a multi-phased approach to ward decants and department remodelling across three separate buildings at the hospital. Design solutions will align with the Trust’s Sustainability Strategy Net Zero requirements, covering plant selection, renewable energy, water management, air quality and material use.

There are currently 13 children’s cancer Principal Treatment Centres (PTC) in England which provide specialist care for children aged 15 and under with cancer. Following an NHS England led decision-making process, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has been chosen as the future PTC location for south London and much of south east England. Evelina London is now working closely with patients, families, its own staff and staff from the existing service delivered by The Royal Marsden and St George’s Hospital, to plan for the safe transfer of specialist cancer services to Evelina London Children’s Hospital. The service is not expected to move before October 2026.

James O’Brien, the children’s cancer Principal Treatment Centre operational delivery director, said: “The appointment of the team from Ramboll and ADP Architecture, with their specialist subconsultants, is a significant step in our journey to bring specialist cancer services to Evelina London Children’s Hospital. We are grateful to the patient representatives who got involved in the decision-making process and to colleagues from the existing service who have already done so much to contribute, and to share their expertise and views with us. Their voices are essential to developing these vital services for children and young people from south London and much of south east England, and we are looking forward to involving them at every stage of the programme.

“In all of Evelina London’s developments, we pride ourselves on working closely with children, families and staff to ensure we are well placed to deliver excellent care in a child-friendly and welcoming environment. As with our award-winning Children’s Day Treatment Centre, which was designed by ADP Architecture, we will involve children, families and staff in all elements of the design and planning of our cancer service.”

Commenting on the appointment, Kevin Smith, Head of Healthcare UK at Ramboll said: “We are delighted to have been selected to provide multi-disciplinary design services on this complex project. With 500 dedicated healthcare experts globally and an extensive international and UK healthcare portfolio, notably Cambridge Children’s Hospital, we look forward to working with the Trust to provide a smooth, timely and affordable service transfer of the Principal Treatment Centre from the Royal Marsden Hospital and St George’s Hospital to Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Our experience with hospital projects gives us a holistic perspective that prioritises patients. It is our goal to ensure that children with cancer have access to safe and timely care with compassionate support and good outcomes.”

Environmental sustainability will be integral to the development and delivery of this project, which will contribute to the Trust's ambition to reduce their absolute scopes 1 and 2 emissions by 47% by December 2029 and achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2045. Focusing on projects that are both sustainable and patient-focused, Ramboll’s design solutions are crafted to minimise environmental impact while having maximum effect on wellbeing.