Laing O’Rourke to deliver research-led Sussex Cancer Centre in Brighton

Laing O’Rourke has been appointed to deliver the new Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, a £250 million development that will act as a regional centre of excellence for both cancer care and clinical innovation.

Approved by the Government and the New Hospitals Programme, the project will serve a population of two million people across Sussex, welcoming more than 60,000 patients a year. Alongside its clinical function, the centre has been purpose-designed to support research, digital innovation and advanced medical technologies, embedding scientific progress into routine patient care.

Dedicated spaces for research and clinical trials are integrated throughout the building, ensuring patients and staff can access and contribute to the latest global advances in oncology. The centre is expected to support developments in artificial intelligence and new therapies, ensuring breakthroughs are tested and applied locally for the benefit of NHS patients.

Laing O’Rourke will apply modern construction methods, including digital design and offsite manufacturing, to accelerate delivery and reduce disruption. The company previously delivered the adjacent Louisa Martindale Building, part of the hospital’s wider redevelopment.

Peter Lyons, managing director at Laing O’Rourke, said: “This project will transform the experience of care for patients and staff. Our integrated supply chain and use of advanced construction technologies will help us deliver a high-quality facility with minimal disruption to the community.”

The building has been designed to operate as a modern clinical and research hub, with high-precision radiotherapy facilities, specialist outpatient clinics and a dedicated Oncology Acute Assessment area. The latter is expected to prevent over 1,000 vulnerable cancer patients each year from attending general A&E departments, enabling them to receive targeted care in a specialist environment.

Dr Sarah Westwell, consultant clinical oncologist and chief of service for cancer, said: “Our new Sussex Cancer Centre will offer privacy, dignity and hope to our patients, while creating a clinical home where medical excellence, outstanding care and leading research can be woven into every step of our patient’s journey.”

As part of the broader hospital campus, the development will also feature a new landscaped garden and “green lung” connecting it to the Louisa Martindale Building. The space is designed to offer respite for patients, families and staff while enhancing the environment of the wider healthcare estate.

Construction of the Sussex Cancer Centre marks the second stage of the Royal Sussex County Hospital’s long-term redevelopment and represents a significant step in bringing world-class science and innovation directly into NHS infrastructure.