Vinci takes over from Galliford Try at Christie
The contractor has been appointed to build the £26m cancer centre at Macclesfield District Hospital, after Galliford Try completed demolition work on site.
A spokesperson for The Christie said: “Galliford Try has completed the initial design and enabling works including the demolition of the existing unit that was located on the site as per their contract. We would like to thank them for their successful delivery of the demolition and enabling works.
“The Trust has taken the opportunity to review the scheme and have worked with Vinci Construction to develop and agree a commercially viable proposal that meets our budget requirements. Our charity is funding most of the cost of this project and we have a responsibility to our fundraisers and taxpayers to deliver this project within the agreed budget.”
The Christie cancer centre was originally scheduled to complete in autumn 2021, but construction has been delayed three months due to Covid-19 and it will now not be ready until the end of next year.
The project, designed by AFL Architects, was announced in 2018 and plans were approved by Cheshire East Council under delegated powers last September.
The cancer centre will be The Christie’s first radiotherapy development outside Greater Manchester and its third radiotherapy satellite site away from its main campus in Withington, with centres at Salford Royal and Royal Oldham Hospital already operational.
The designs by AFL envisage the two-storey centre sitting on part of the site of the Millbrook Unit at Macclesfield General, linked to the main hospital building via a ground-floor corridor.
Facilities will include two linear accelerators for radiotherapy treatment; a CT scanner room; spaces for counselling, consultation, therapy, examination, workshops and offices, as well as space for staff research and a chemotherapy treatment room.
In January, Galliford Try was appointed to carry out the construction of the facility but Vinci Construction is now named as the main contractor.
Vinci is one half of Integrated Health Projects, a joint venture with Sir Robert McAlpine, which is the lead constructor for The Christie’s £150m cancer research centre in Withington.
Dr Andrew Sykes, director of clinical oncology and clinical lead for The Christie at Macclesfield, said: “With the first wave of the pandemic now behind us, we can once again move forward with our ambitious plans for a new cancer centre in Macclesfield.
“We also hope, as things start to get back to normal in our communities, fundraising for this vital project across Macclesfield and East Cheshire will pick up again.” He said an additional £20m of fundraising was required for the project.
Vinci and Galliford Try were contacted for comment.