Contractor Morgan Sindall Construction has completed a new 964-space Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) at North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH).

The firm has delivered £36.5 million of enabling works ahead of the wider rebuilding of the estate, including temporary car parking, asbestos removal, demolition and the new-build MSCP and Cycle Hub. The project was procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework.

The MSCP is now open to NMGH staff and will be fully open to the public in the coming months following Morgan Sindall’s completion of further external hard landscaping, including the installation of 36 electric vehicle charging points.

NMGH - located in Crumpsall, 3.5 miles outside Manchester city centre - is one of the hospitals to receive funding through the Government’s New Hospital Programme, backed by an initial £3.7bn to deliver 40 new hospitals across the country by 2030.

NMGH is at the heart of an exciting vision to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. Alongside health and care services fit for the 21st century, the redevelopment will provide the employment, housing and economic opportunities that are key to generating long term growth and prosperity for North Manchester.

The project, led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust with Manchester City Council and the GM Integrated Care Board, will not only provide essential redevelopment to an estate in critical need of investment, but also serve as a catalyst for the wider economic regeneration of North Manchester.

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In delivering this project, Morgan Sindall deployed its Intelligent Solutions approach to ensure minimal disruption to the hospital estate, ensuring departments could provide continuity in vital healthcare services for all patients and staff within the live hospital environment.

Morgan Sindall also delivered a comprehensive social value plan that has provided a significant return on investment into the local community. The plan, as well as addressing the specific local requirements of North Manchester communities, has also supported the Greater Manchester Living with Covid Resilience Plan. This included the creation of a Knowledge Quad on site – a multi-purpose training and learning facility located within a live construction environment. It delivers value by undertaking activities focusing on the four key areas of skills, education, employment, and discovery.

The Knowledge Quad also creates a vital link between industry and education, ensuring that curriculums align with employer requirements and that students, trainees and apprentices at all levels are provided with the relevant knowledge and skills to help them succeed.

A recruitment event held at the Knowledge Quad in January of this year resulted in a local Blackley man – who was looking for work in North Manchester after fifteen years of working away from home in the rail industry - finding work at engineering sub-contractor Imtech after being introduced by Morgan Sindall. He is one of 400 people supported into employment as a result of the project.

The project also saw 66 new job starts, with positions created for those furthest from the labour market. One ex-offender was employed by Morgan Sindall as a labourer via Footprint Recruitment and, following his training, is now a qualified banksman.

Morgan Sindall facilitated an educational partnership with the local North Ridge High School, which supports the diverse special educational needs of pupils between the ages of 11 and 19. Students attended the Knowledge Quad for numerous engagement sessions including painting the ‘Tree of Life’ mural which symbolises unity and inclusion. One student keen to develop her skills was offered a long-term, part-time work placement with Morgan Sindall's site administrator to build new skills and confidence. This was one of 33 work experience placements offered throughout the project.