Thought Leadership
Reimagining healthcare spaces to meet a reimagined NHS
by Victoria Shepherdson
Associate Director, Architecture
The Government’s new 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out a transformative direction for the NHS - anchored in prevention, digital delivery and localised care.
It’s more than a policy - it’s a reimagining of how healthcare is delivered, accessed, and experienced. For those leading NHS estates and infrastructure, it presents both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity.
From hospital to neighbourhood: A shift in care models
The Plan’s ambition to create a neighbourhood health centre in every community, prioritising areas with the lowest healthy life expectancy, represents a shift from hospital-centric care to integrated, place-based delivery.
At AHR, we’ve long championed infrastructure that strengthens community connection. We work with NHS Trusts, local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to design inclusive, multifunctional health environments that improve access, reduce inequalities, and feel part of everyday life.
Our portfolio reflects the direction of the Plan
We’re already making a real difference, improving experiences for patients, staff, families and communities.
Princess Royal Hospital Same-Day Elective Hub – boosting capacity and reducing waiting times.
Victoria Square Health & Wellbeing Hub – co-locating clinical, social and community services to support joined-up care
Abbey Area Community Hub and The Greenwood Centre– embedding inclusive health and community services into neighbourhoods.
Real projects, real results
Designing for a digital-first NHS
A key ambition is making the NHS the most digitally accessible health system in the world. That means estates must evolve - supporting AI diagnostics, remote monitoring and virtual consultations. With the NHS App as the “digital front door,” physical spaces must work in partnership with virtual services.
Our teams are delivering smart, flexible infrastructure that enables this shift, re-imagining spaces and schedules of accommodation to allow health providers to facilitate this transition and using tools like digital twins, advanced surveying and estate optimisation to create responsive, future-ready environments.
Supporting prevention and long-term health
The shift to preventive care isn’t just medical, it’s spatial. Schools, homes, transport and public spaces all shape health outcomes. The Plan’s focus on equity calls for investment in inclusive, age-friendly, accessible environments.
AHR’s cross-sector experience in healthcare, education, residential and civic design helps deliver joined-up infrastructure that supports healthy lives from cradle to later life, while maximising social value and long-term return.
UK-wide reach, local expertise
While the Health Plan applies to England, AHR operates across England, Scotland and Wales, supporting public sector clients in all three nations as they pursue their own strategies. With offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Leeds, London, Manchester and Shrewsbury, we bring regional knowledge with national scale.
Our full-service support for healthcare transformation
We offer a complete suite of services to support health estate evolution:
- Architecture
- Building consultancy
- Geomatics and surveying
- Retrofit and decarbonisation
- Masterplanning and estates strategy
- Interior design
- Conservation
- Landscape and urban design
Whether you’re rethinking a community hub, modernising an acute care facility or embedding net zero across your estate, we support the full building lifecycle, from strategic planning and business cases through to delivery and long-term asset optimisation.
Why AHR?
Our multidisciplinary teams work as one - from architects and interior designers to building surveyors and geomatics consultants - ensuring seamless, cost-effective, people-centred delivery.
- 30+ NHS Trusts and ICBs supported
- Projects across acute, community, research, training and primary care
- Multi-sector insight: healthcare, civic, education, residential, transport
- Framework-ready, with deep experience in public sector procurement
- Award-winning in healthy building design, retrofit, and decarbonisation
- Experts in digitally enabled infrastructure
The NHS has chosen to reimagine itself. AHR is ready to ensure the estate rises to meet that ambition.
Get in touch at hello@ahr.co.uk to discuss how we can support your strategy in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.
Posted on:
Jul 4th 2025
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