Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has announced that the PPP project for the relocation of the UK Papworth Hospital to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus has received planning permission.

A Skanska-led consortium has been recently selected as a preferred bidder for the project, beating its rival Bouygues. OCS, another member of the winning consortium, will provide support services such as catering and cleaning.

The project will consist of a 310-bed, purpose-built hospital and it will have a research and education institute. The hospital will have single rooms and a research and education institute.

The project includes the development and maintenance of the new facilities for a period of 30 years. The total project investment is estimated at £165 million (US$258 million).

Construction works are scheduled to begin in early 2015 and the new facilities are expected to be operational by 2017.

Stephen Bridge, Chief executive at Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, stated:

"The new hospital will allow Papworth to continue to lead in cardiothoracic care."

Prof Wallwork, a former consultant surgeon, added:

"This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity also opens up exciting prospects in terms of world-class research and education facilities which will benefit the wider UK health economy."

Papworth Hospital was home to the first successful heart transplant in the UK and one of the world's first beating-heart transplants. The Papworth site has two main building complexes:

• the main building, providing cardiology and all surgical services, together with the intensive care unit, and
• the Chest Medical Unit, providing respiratory medicine services.