The Women and Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has received the Best Architectural Design for a Healthcare Facility award
The project was designed by architecture and building consultancy practice AHR, working in collaboration with clinical teams, estates representatives and wider project stakeholders.
The new maternity and neonatal facility has been designed to prioritise patient-centred care while integrating sustainability, safety and staff wellbeing.
Collaborative approach
The recognition reflects a coordinated delivery process across client and consultant teams.
The building was developed in close partnership between AHR and the Trust, with stakeholders engaged throughout the design process. Workshops, immersive design sessions and structured away-days were used to test proposals and ensure the facility responds to clinical workflows and service needs.
Pippa Scott-Heale, divisional director planned care at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said: “Working with AHR has been an incredibly positive experience. From the outset, they genuinely listened to us and involved us in every step of the process. After waiting so long for a new building, seeing it completed and delivered on time is something we all feel really proud of.”
Design and performance
The completed building provides maternity and neonatal services in a light-filled, family-focused environment. The design incorporates strong visual connections to nature and has been planned around staff workflows as well as patient experience.
The facility was originally built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which the NHS is working to remove from the public estate by 2035.
The project is the first in England to be approved under the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, aligning healthcare infrastructure delivery with wider NHS sustainability commitments.
The net zero carbon status was the outcome of carefully considered design decisions. Resulting in:
- 25% lower upfront carbon than required under the Standard
- 220 MWh annual energy savings through high-efficiency building services
- Achieving BREEAM Excellent (top 10% UK buildings for energy efficiency)
Gareth Banks, project director, AHR, said: “As designers, we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
We’ve helped to shape a building that not only meets the needs of today but is flexible and resilient enough to support future generations of staff, services and patients.”
The post Architectural design award for maternity and neonatal facility in Chester appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
