Biodiversity & regeneration: improving the local environment

Summary

The key sustainability features of this project are:
1. Landscaping to protect and enhance indigenous flora and fauna
2. Use of environmentally friendly materials
3. Green transport plans to reduce traffic impacts on the local community

Success factors for implementation

There was a general aspiration by the Trust that the buildings should be environmentally sustainable, but specific sustainability issues were driven by the successful contractors.

Key success factors for implementation included:

• Use of sustainability as criteria for procurement, meaning sustainability was led by the contractor but fully endorsed by Health Trust.
• Sustainability aspects were developed in collaboration with external groups, including the New Marston Wildlife Trust, and the local council.
• Leadership by the Contractor, including development of a Biodiversity Action Plan and Sustainability Action Plan, the latter previously piloted at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon.

Sustainability results

• Retention of grassland and wild flowers and a hedgerow in the car park, and new planting balancing decorative and indigenous plants.
• Use of environmentally friendly materials including linoleum, ceiling tiles incorporating 30% recycled materials and a new biocide paint designed to control and combat infection.
• Green transport system with dedicated link roads for buses, increased cycle and footpaths.
• A permeable pavement with water storage facilities in the staff car park reduces risk of flooding and water pollution.

Costs and benefits

The cost of the new buildings and facilities was £135 million, £15 million of which came from a charity for the Children’s Hospital. Key benefits include:

• Better service to patients by integrating related services on one site in new, state-of-the-art buildings, and in the same area of Oxford as other hospital facilities.
• Minimum traffic impacts on the local community.
• Regeneration of the corridor between the JR and the Churchill Hospitals.

Contact

Vickie Holcroft, Project Director, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust
e-mail: vickie.holcroft@orh.nhs.uk

Keith Hutton, Project Director, Carillion Construction Ltd
e-mail: khutton@carillionplc.com