The £110m Women & Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital has received a remarkable sweep of national accolades in its inaugural year, bringing its total award count to seven. Opened in September 2025, the facility has been lauded for its modern architectural design, sustainable building practices, and its collaborative development process involving staff, patients, and families.
Recent honours include the Most Sustainable Building Project of the Year at the Building Innovation Awards, Regional Winner for Best Public or Community Building at the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards, and the prestigious Project of the Year at the Government Property Awards. These add to previous accolades for architectural excellence, sustainability, construction quality, and its distinctive rainscreen façade.
The building, which consolidates maternity, neonatal, paediatric, and gynaecology services, is also shortlisted for six further national awards, including the HSJ Towards Net Zero Award and the Building Better Healthcare Awards, both scheduled for November. It replaces a 1970s facility with contemporary, family-centred spaces, constructed using an innovative 'domino effect' method over two years.
Each ward features single ensuite rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and overnight accommodation for partners. The facility includes a dedicated Teens Lounge, a secure outdoor play area for children, the Lavender Suite for bereaved families, and specialised facilities for neonatal families, including an overnight flat and kitchenette.
As the first completed NHS building in England verified against the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, its design has garnered significant national attention, with other NHS organisations visiting to study its approach. Since opening, maternity services have seen a ten per cent increase in births and new bookings, indicating growing trust from local families.
“"Families helped shape this building from the start. Their feedback guided the spaces we created for women, babies and children. Our Family Integrated Care approach is now nationally accredited, and we are already seeing the impact. Births and maternity bookings have risen by around ten per cent since opening, showing that local families are putting their trust in us."
Jane Tomkinson, OBE, Chief Executive at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the building's impact: “These awards also matter for the future. They strengthen our case for further investment and support our ambition to become a teaching hospital. Modern, sustainable facilities attract the best staff and create greater opportunities for training and research.”
She added, “Winning seven awards and being shortlisted for another six in our first year, including at Government level, is a tremendous achievement. It reflects the staff and patient-informed design, the sustainability, the construction quality and the public value behind the project.” The building's success is already fostering collaborations, with neighbouring Trusts, commissioners, and NHS England teams seeking to learn from its innovative design and sustainability strategies.
Tomkinson further commented, “What is most exciting is how this building is already shaping the future of NHS design. We are seeing interest from across the country because the Women & Children’s Building shows what modern, sustainable healthcare can look like. If it helps other hospitals deliver better environments for families, then its impact will reach far beyond Chester.” The project involved the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Integrated Health Projects (a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine), architects AHR, and numerous specialist consultants and contractors.
