Project overview
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is leading one of the UK’s most significant hospital replacement programmes through the New Hospital Programme (NHP). With approximately 83% of Airedale General Hospital constructed using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), and more than 50,000 RAAC panels across the site, the Trust faces the largest RAAC challenge in the country. Supported by around £1.4 billion of investment, the Securing the Future Programme aims to eliminate these risks while delivering a modern, digitally enabled hospital aligned with the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Archus was appointed to develop a comprehensive Strategic Outline Case (SOC), drawing on our in-depth understanding of the Trust, its community and its long-term transformation ambitions. Building on previous support for the Trust’s healthcare planning, Target Operating Model and Community Estate Strategy, we worked alongside KPMG and the wider programme team to create a business case aligned with New Hospital Programme requirements, HM Treasury Green Book guidance and NHS standards.
Our role included leading the Commercial and Management Cases, providing specialist input into the Strategic Case and supporting the development of the economic options framework. Throughout the process, we successfully incorporated evolving Hospital 2.0 standards and programme requirements into the business case, ensuring compliance while maintaining programme momentum. The resulting SOC provides a robust foundation for future investment decisions and the delivery of a transformational healthcare facility for West Yorkshire.
Outcomes
- Delivered a fully compliant Strategic Outline Case approved by the Trust Board.
- Supported successful submission to the New Hospital Programme within agreed timescales and with minimal assurance feedback.
- Created a strong business case foundation for the delivery of a £1.4 billion replacement hospital programme.
The challenge
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust must replace a hospital estate significantly affected by RAAC while continuing to provide safe and effective healthcare services. The redevelopment programme must be delivered on a constrained operational site with no viable alternative location, requiring careful consideration of phasing, service continuity and long-term strategic planning.
At the same time, the project was being developed against a backdrop of evolving New Hospital Programme requirements, emerging Hospital 2.0 standards and changing national healthcare priorities. The Trust needed a Strategic Outline Case capable of satisfying complex governance, assurance and Treasury approval processes while clearly demonstrating the strategic need and viability of the programme.
The solution
Archus delivered a comprehensive Strategic Outline Case aligned with New Hospital Programme requirements, NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care guidance, and HM Treasury Green Book standards.
Working closely with KPMG, the Trust and wider programme stakeholders, we led the Commercial and Management Cases while providing specialist advisory input across the Strategic Case and options appraisal process. We also helped integrate evolving Hospital 2.0 requirements into the business case, ensuring alignment across programme, planning and design workstreams.
Our understanding of the Trust’s wider transformation agenda enabled us to connect estate investment decisions with future models of care, community services and neighbourhood-based healthcare delivery.
The impact
The completed Strategic Outline Case provided a robust and credible evidence base for one of the UK’s most important healthcare infrastructure programmes. By securing Trust Board approval and supporting a successful submission to the New Hospital Programme, the work enabled the programme to progress through assurance and investment processes with confidence.
The business case establishes a clear roadmap for replacing obsolete infrastructure, eliminating RAAC risk and transforming healthcare delivery for future generations. It also provides the strategic framework needed to support future Outline Business Case and Full Business Case development, helping to ensure the programme remains aligned with national policy, community needs and long-term service transformation objectives.
