What are Neighbourhood Health Centres?

Neighbourhood Health Centres are new community-based facilities that bring primary care, community health, diagnostics, mental health support and wider wellbeing services together in one accessible local space. They form a core part of the Government’s Fit for the Future 10-Year Health Plan and the shift towards prevention-focused care.

Why are these centres being introduced?

The centres are designed to make it easier for people to access everyday care closer to home, reduce pressure on hospitals and help tackle health inequalities. They support the national ambition to move away from a hospital-centric model and provide more joined-up services at neighbourhood level.

How many Neighbourhood Health Centres will be built?

The Government has announced 250 centres across England, with more than 100 expected to be open by 2030 as part of the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme.

How will Neighbourhood Health Centres be funded?

Funding will come through a mix of public capital and a refreshed public-private partnership (PPP) model. Capital for neighbourhood and primary care estate will largely flow through Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), with some nationally held pots ringfenced for neighbourhood health. Public Dividend Capital (PDC) will be released for individual schemes once approved.

Who will deliver the new centres?

The centres will be delivered through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme, which will combine repurposed estate, refurbishments, expansions and targeted new-builds. NHS provider trusts, ICBs and local authority estate-holding bodies are expected to be the primary recipients of capital. PPP partners will play a role where additional expertise and investment offer value for money.

What types of services will they include?

Each centre will vary based on local need, but core services are expected to include: GP and primary care services Community health teams Diagnostics and testing Mental health and wellbeing support Community pharmacy Links to voluntary and community sector services They are intended as accessible one-stop shops operating extended hours to support earlier intervention and reduce hospital demand.

How do Neighbourhood Health Centres fit into ICB strategies?

The centres directly support key ICB priorities, including prevention, population health management, care closer to home, tackling inequalities and delivering Net Zero-aligned estates. They provide a flexible local base for multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams and digitally enabled care.

Has detailed guidance on bidding and business cases been released?

No. NHS England has confirmed that operational details, bidding guidance, business case templates, delivery routes and PPP model specifics will be published as the neighbourhood health programme develops. Further updates are expected following the Autumn Budget and subsequent NHSE capital guidance cycles.

How can NHS Trusts, ICBs and local authorities prepare now?

Key early steps include: Reviewing existing estate for repurposing opportunities Mapping local need, population health priorities and gaps in provision Identifying potential sites aligned to high-need neighbourhoods Beginning early conversations across local partners Assessing digital, diagnostic and multi-disciplinary team requirements These actions will position organisations to move quickly once national guidance is released.

How AHR can support the development of Neighbourhood Health Centres?

Delivering Neighbourhood Health Centres requires a blend of strategic insight, technical expertise and a deep understanding of how communities access care. With experience across community health hubs, integrated public sector buildings and estate transformation, we can support clients at every stage — from early feasibility through to delivery and post-occupancy evaluation. Masterplanning and strategic planning We help clients shape long-term, prevention-focused estate strategies by providing: Integrated masterplans that consider local demographics, demand, transport, accessibility and future flexibility Option appraisals for the repurposing of existing NHS and local authority estate Site identification and evaluation, including constraints, opportunities and alignment with ICB priorities Location strategies that support “health on the high street” and strengthen local access to services Business case development and capital planning We support NHS Trusts, ICBs and local authorities in navigating emerging Neighbourhood Rebuild requirements through: Design support for Strategic Outline Case (SOC), Outline Business Case (OBC) and Full Business Case (FBC) development Design support for Value-for-money assessments and optioneering aligned with PPP and public capital pathways Design support for Evidence-based demand modelling and benefits realisation planning Analysis of existing properties and Integration of Net Zero, Modern Methods of Construction and digital readiness into investment cases Repurposing, refurbishment and optimisation of existing estate Many Neighbourhood Health Centres will rely on transforming what already exists. Our teams provide: Detailed building surveying, condition assessments and compliance reviews Repurposing strategies that unlock capacity within primary care, community health and local authority buildings Fabric improvement and lifecycle planning to extend asset life and reduce operational costs Conservation and heritage expertise where buildings require sensitive refurbishment Designing flexible, community-centred health environments Our architects, interior designers and building consultancy specialists create environments that support integrated models of care by: Designing adaptable multi-disciplinary spaces suited to co-located teams Embedding diagnostics, mental health, community support and voluntary services into welcoming, accessible settings Ensuring environments support prevention, early intervention and digitally enabled care pathways Prioritising inclusive, healthy and sustainable design principles throughout Digital and spatial data insight Our geomatic consultancy brings industry-leading technical capability to help clients plan confidently through: Reality capture, point-cloud surveys and digital twins to support design and operational planning BIM-enabled project information management aligned with NHS digital standards Spatial analytics to support capacity planning, service modelling and future adaptability Property and asset management support Neighbourhood Health Centres will require efficient long-term management. In conjunction with partners, we support clients with: Asset management strategies that link estates decisions to population health needs Planned maintenance, lifecycle modelling and compliance monitoring Intelligent FM and digital asset records that support efficient operations Post-occupancy evaluation to ensure buildings perform as intended and continue to meet local need

AHR Mixed Use Abbey Area Community Hub Architecture Camden 7

Thought Leadership

Government confirms 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres as part of prevention-focused 10-Year Health Plan

Min Read

by AHR

The UK Government has set out plans to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres across England. This is one of the most significant shifts towards community-based, preventative care in a generation.

The centres sit at the heart of the Fit for the Future 10 Year Health Plan, which commits to moving care closer to home and strengthening local access to primary, community and diagnostic services.

This new model signals a move away from a hospital-centric system towards what the plan describes as a ‘neighbourhood health service’, offering accessible, integrated support that brings together primary care, community health, mental health, diagnostics and wider wellbeing services in one place.

A shift towards prevention and accessible local care

Neighbourhood Health Centres are intended to provide a one-stop shop for everyday health and wellbeing needs. Designed to be open for extended hours and rooted in the communities they serve, the centres will support earlier intervention, reduce pressure on acute hospitals and help tackle longstanding health inequalities and waiting lists.

The Government has committed to prioritising areas with lower healthy life expectancy, ensuring the programme directly supports communities with the greatest need. This aligns with the wider national ambition to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.

The initiative also supports the national ‘health on the high street’ direction, making better use of local authority and NHS estate, repurposing under-used civic buildings and revitalising town centres with accessible wellbeing services.

AHR Mixed Use Abbey Area Community Hub Architecture Camden 9e

A move away from a hospital-centric system

What we know so far about delivery and funding

The centres will be brought forward through the new NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme, combining:

Repurposing and optimising existing NHS and local authority estate
Extensions and refurbishments to create flexible, multi-disciplinary neighbourhood hubs
Targeted new-builds where purpose-built accommodation is required
Public capital investment supported by a refreshed PPP model, intended to draw on external expertise while maintaining NHS clinical leadership

Capital for neighbourhood health is expected to flow primarily through Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), with some nationally held pots earmarked specifically for neighbourhood services, as highlighted in recent NHS England capital guidance. Approvals will follow established national capital gateways, with Public Dividend Capital (PDC) released once schemes are confirmed.

Detailed guidance on business case requirements, bidding rounds, evaluation criteria and the structure of the new PPP model is still to come. NHS England has confirmed that further information will be provided as the programme develops.

Implications for NHS Trusts, ICBs and local partners

The programme points to growing national focus on:

Making better use of existing estate through repurposing and optimisation
Creating flexible, multidisciplinary hubs that support integrated neighbourhood teams
Embedding diagnostics, community mental health and prevention-led services in accessible local settings
Supporting ICB strategies for population health, care closer to home and net zero
Designing digitally enabled spaces that can adapt to changes in service delivery over time

With more than 100 centres expected to open by 2030, the programme represents a long-term shift in how care will be delivered locally and how estates strategies will need to evolve in response.

How AHR’s experience supports emerging neighbourhood health priorities

We have a strong track record designing and delivering community-focused health, wellbeing and civic buildings that bring services together for local residents. These include integrated neighbourhood facilities, community health hubs, and multi-agency public sector buildings.

Projects such as Victoria Square, which co-locates primary care, community services and local authority functions, and the Abbey Area Community Hub, designed to promote accessibility, wellbeing and multi-disciplinary support, show how existing estates can be transformed to meet modern health and care needs.

AHR Healthcare Victoria Square Architecture Braintree 2

A community-led healthcare hub prioritising wellbeing

Bringing health and wellbeing to the high street

Learn more about Victoria Square

A community-led healthcare hub prioritising wellbeing

Bringing health and wellbeing to the high street

Our experience means we understand the practical and strategic considerations behind prevention-focused, neighbourhood-level models - from repurposing existing assets and developing business cases, to exploring capital and delivery options and designing new-build centres that integrate diverse services under one roof.

As NHS Trusts, ICBs and local authorities begin shaping their neighbourhood health strategies, we can help clients plan with confidence - creating adaptable, welcoming and community-centred spaces that support better population health. Get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

: Neighbourhood Health Centres are new community-based facilities that bring primary care, community health, diagnostics, mental health support and wider wellbeing services together in one accessible local space. They form a core part of the Government’s Fit for the Future 10-Year Health Plan and the shift towards prevention-focused care.
: The centres are designed to make it easier for people to access everyday care closer to home, reduce pressure on hospitals and help tackle health inequalities. They support the national ambition to move away from a hospital-centric model and provide more joined-up services at neighbourhood level.
: The Government has announced 250 centres across England, with more than 100 expected to be open by 2030 as part of the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme.
: Funding will come through a mix of public capital and a refreshed public-private partnership (PPP) model. Capital for neighbourhood and primary care estate will largely flow through Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), with some nationally held pots ringfenced for neighbourhood health. Public Dividend Capital (PDC) will be released for individual schemes once approved.
: The centres will be delivered through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild programme, which will combine repurposed estate, refurbishments, expansions and targeted new-builds. NHS provider trusts, ICBs and local authority estate-holding bodies are expected to be the primary recipients of capital. PPP partners will play a role where additional expertise and investment offer value for money.
: Each centre will vary based on local need, but core services are expected to include:
GP and primary care services
Community health teams
Diagnostics and testing
Mental health and wellbeing support
Community pharmacy
Links to voluntary and community sector services
They are intended as accessible one-stop shops operating extended hours to support earlier intervention and reduce hospital demand.
: The centres directly support key ICB priorities, including prevention, population health management, care closer to home, tackling inequalities and delivering Net Zero-aligned estates. They provide a flexible local base for multidisciplinary neighbourhood teams and digitally enabled care.
: No. NHS England has confirmed that operational details, bidding guidance, business case templates, delivery routes and PPP model specifics will be published as the neighbourhood health programme develops. Further updates are expected following the Autumn Budget and subsequent NHSE capital guidance cycles.
: Key early steps include:
Reviewing existing estate for repurposing opportunities
Mapping local need, population health priorities and gaps in provision
Identifying potential sites aligned to high-need neighbourhoods
Beginning early conversations across local partners
Assessing digital, diagnostic and multi-disciplinary team requirements
These actions will position organisations to move quickly once national guidance is released.
: Delivering Neighbourhood Health Centres requires a blend of strategic insight, technical expertise and a deep understanding of how communities access care. With experience across community health hubs, integrated public sector buildings and estate transformation, we can support clients at every stage — from early feasibility through to delivery and post-occupancy evaluation.
Masterplanning and strategic planning
We help clients shape long-term, prevention-focused estate strategies by providing:
Integrated masterplans that consider local demographics, demand, transport, accessibility and future flexibility
Option appraisals for the repurposing of existing NHS and local authority estate
Site identification and evaluation, including constraints, opportunities and alignment with ICB priorities
Location strategies that support “health on the high street” and strengthen local access to services
Business case development and capital planning
We support NHS Trusts, ICBs and local authorities in navigating emerging Neighbourhood Rebuild requirements through:
Design support for Strategic Outline Case (SOC), Outline Business Case (OBC) and Full Business Case (FBC) development
Design support for Value-for-money assessments and optioneering aligned with PPP and public capital pathways
Design support for Evidence-based demand modelling and benefits realisation planning
Analysis of existing properties and Integration of Net Zero, Modern Methods of Construction and digital readiness into investment cases
Repurposing, refurbishment and optimisation of existing estate
Many Neighbourhood Health Centres will rely on transforming what already exists. Our teams provide:
Detailed building surveying, condition assessments and compliance reviews
Repurposing strategies that unlock capacity within primary care, community health and local authority buildings
Fabric improvement and lifecycle planning to extend asset life and reduce operational costs
Conservation and heritage expertise where buildings require sensitive refurbishment
Designing flexible, community-centred health environments
Our architects, interior designers and building consultancy specialists create environments that support integrated models of care by:
Designing adaptable multi-disciplinary spaces suited to co-located teams
Embedding diagnostics, mental health, community support and voluntary services into welcoming, accessible settings
Ensuring environments support prevention, early intervention and digitally enabled care pathways
Prioritising inclusive, healthy and sustainable design principles throughout
Digital and spatial data insight
Our geomatic consultancy brings industry-leading technical capability to help clients plan confidently through:
Reality capture, point-cloud surveys and digital twins to support design and operational planning
BIM-enabled project information management aligned with NHS digital standards
Spatial analytics to support capacity planning, service modelling and future adaptability
Property and asset management support
Neighbourhood Health Centres will require efficient long-term management. In conjunction with partners, we support clients with:
Asset management strategies that link estates decisions to population health needs
Planned maintenance, lifecycle modelling and compliance monitoring
Intelligent FM and digital asset records that support efficient operations
Post-occupancy evaluation to ensure buildings perform as intended and continue to meet local need