HBC Construction Limited (HBC) has successfully completed work on The Spark, the new home of the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT) in Sheffield, with the facility set to become operational later this year.
Delivered in partnership with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the flagship project spans approximately 43,000 sq ft at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. The £17m purpose-built facility brings together global clinical expertise within modern, technology-enabled spaces and is set to play a leading role in transforming children’s healthcare both in the UK and internationally. The centre will support the development and adoption of innovative healthcare technologies aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people.
The Spark has been completed to exceptional environmental standards and is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, with sustainability embedded throughout its design and construction.
The project has been funded by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, representing a significant collaborative investment in the future of children’s healthcare across the region.
The facility will also support the Government’s long-term ambition to improve healthcare by bringing care closer to communities, increasing the use of digital technology and placing greater emphasis on prevention alongside treatment.
Commenting on the project, Lee Powell, Managing Director at HBC, said: “We are proud to have successfully delivered the National Centre for Child Health Technology. It is a landmark and genuinely transformative project for the UK.
“Contributing to a facility that has the potential to change lives and improve outcomes for children and young people has been a truly rewarding journey for our team.
“We’ve built a strong working relationship with the Trust, founded on ambition, flexibility and close collaboration, and have together delivered the scheme to the exceptionally high standards it merits.”
The completion of the building marks a major milestone for Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust during its 150th anniversary year, as it prepares to fully operationalise the centre and expand its work with partners across healthcare, academia and industry.
Ruth Brown, Chief Executive at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The completion of Sheffield Children’s newest building, The Spark, is an important milestone for children and young people everywhere. As we celebrate 150 years of Sheffield Children’s, we are proud to open a new facility that will transform care today while also becoming the home of the National Centre for Child Health Technology, helping shape the future of children’s healthcare for generations to come.
“The Spark has been shaped through partnership, ambition and a shared belief that every child deserves the very best healthcare. Working with children and young people, clinicians, colleagues who support our services, and our construction partner, HBC Construction, we have designed and delivered a new space that will help us in our mission to create healthier futures for children and young people.”
Social value has remained a core focus throughout the project. Last summer, representatives from HBC, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, SYMCA and Sheffield City Council, together with young people involved in the project, participated in a steel-signing ceremony. During the event, they wrote their names, aspirations and hopes for the future of healthcare onto the building’s structure.
The NCCHT is now set to open during Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust’s 150th anniversary year and the 50th anniversary of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.