Another win for the Countess of Chester Hospital Women and Children’s Building at the Government Property Awards 2026

The award celebrates the positive difference the Women and Children’s Building has made to civic infrastructure and the communities who use it. The project was recognised for the strength of collaboration behind it, its status as the first building in England approved under the NHS Net Zero Building Standard and the trauma-informed design principles that make it a sustainable and inclusive environment for patients, colleagues and families.

Delivered through strong collaboration

This achievement reflects the strength of a genuine one-team approach. We’re incredibly proud to celebrate this wonderful success alongside our trusted partners, including the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ecospheric and Integrated Health Projects (IHP), a joint venture between Vinci Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine.

A national blueprint for net zero carbon healthcare

As the first hospital in England formally approved under the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, the judges recognised the Women and Children’s Building as a landmark facility contributing towards the NHS’s net zero carbon emissions by 2045 target.

To reduce embodied carbon, the team specified low-carbon concrete for piling and foundations, paired with an imaginative post-tensioned frame and slab system that minimised material use. A fully electric system, powered by air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels, works alongside smart lighting, triple-glazed windows and an efficient ventilation system, achieving an exceptional airtightness rating of 2.4. Resulting in:

• 25% lower upfront carbon than required under the standard.
• 220 MWh annual energy savings through high-efficiency building services.
• Achieving BREEAM Excellent, placing it among the top 10% most energy-efficient buildings in the UK.

To ensure sustainability remained a key focus from design to construction, the project also introduced the pioneering role of Net Zero Carbon Coordinator, an approach now being viewed as a model for future NHS building schemes.

Learn more about the building’s net zero carbon accreditation

Designed around people

Our role as architect and interior designer focused on creating a calm, intuitive and inclusive environment for everyone who uses the building. Trauma-informed design principles shaped every decision, aiming to reduce stress and promote emotional wellbeing alongside physical healthcare.

• Spaces were carefully structured via intuitive navigation to avoid disorientation and reduce psychological stress.
• A calming colour palette of soft greens, lavenders and neutrals softens the interior, paired with soft LED lighting and natural light, to reduce anxiety for patients and families.
• Single en-suite and dedicated family rooms offer a sense of security during critical maternity, neonatal and paediatric care.
• Windows are positioned to provide clear views of the surrounding Welsh hills and landscaped courtyards, pulling calm external tones inside.

We also worked closely with the community the building serves, including local school children who helped co-design playful areas within the building. The result is a facility that truly works for the people who use it, supporting the priorities set out in NHS England’s Maternity and Neonatal Infrastructure Review.

Recognised across the industry

The Countess of Chester Hospital Women and Children’s Building has been recognised by several major industry awards this year, including Best Architectural Design for a Healthcare Facility at the Healthcare Design Awards and Project of the Year at the North West Regional Construction Awards (Cheshire, Wirral and Warrington category). Each recognition reinforces what this project demonstrates: that healthcare environments can deliver better outcomes for communities while setting new standards for sustainable design.

We’re proud to see this project continue to be celebrated across the sector, and we look forward to bringing the same collaborative, people-first approach to future healthcare projects across the UK.

Learn more about the Countess of Chester Hospital Women and Children’s Building by visiting our case study