A planning application to build a new specialist cancer research hospital has been submitted to Cambridge City Council.
The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) project will change the story of cancer for patients and their families by bringing together clinical expertise from Addenbrooke’s Hospital and world-class scientists from the University of Cambridge in a new state-of-the-art facility for the East of England.
The hospital will enable clinical experts to detect cancer earlier, treat it more precisely and save more lives.
It will be based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, a hub of innovation and home to some of the most influential organisations in life science, bringing the research bench to the bedside.
Professor Richard Gilbertson, research lead for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and head of the University of Cambridge’s department of oncology, said: “This represents a big milestone in building CCRH that will be a world-class facility in the heart of one of Europe’s largest biomedical research centres.
“The collaboration between patients, physicians and scientists in the new hospital will undoubtedly change the way cancer is treated for the better, across the region, the UK and the world. It’s an exciting moment for us all.”
The project is part of the government’s new hospital programme and its commitment to build 48 new hospitals by 2030, backed by an initial £3.7bn in government funding.
Current and former cancer patients are working on CCRH throughout its build journey, sharing thoughts and ideas based on their own lived experience.
The project team are also engaging with staff and carers from the East of England to help shape how the facility might look and feel.
Clinical lead for CCRH and director of cancer services at Cambridge University Hospitals, Dr Hugo Ford, said: “I’m delighted that we have taken the first step towards making our plans a reality for CCRH.
“Our focus on the early diagnosis of cancer and personalised medicine will provide world leading care which will benefit patients from across the East of England.”
He added: “This will be a cancer hospital for the region to change the way we detect and treat cancer and, by putting patients and staff at its heart, we’re ensuring all voices are heard in the design.
“It’s really important to us that the building feels more like a welcoming, calm and healing space rather than just a standard clinical environment.
“We’re committed to working with our award-winning architects NBBJ to help deliver this.”
CCRH aims to be a champion in sustainability; it will seek to be low carbon and electric powered, helping the NHS deliver a net zero health service.
The project has now begun the process to appoint a construction partner to build the seven-storey 26,000m2 facility next to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, AstraZeneca and Royal Papworth Hospital.
It is a partnership between Cambridge University Hospitals, the University of Cambridge and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre (CRUK CC) that will support the ambitions set out in the government’s life sciences vision, and the NHS long term plan.
The University of Cambridge is working with Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust to secure further philanthropic donations for the project.
The outline business case for the new hospital was submitted in 2022 and the full business case will now be worked on and developed throughout 2023, with construction expected to start in 2024.
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