Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has officially broken ground with delivery partner, Robertson Construction North West, to replace RAAC at the Maternity and Women’s Health Unit at Royal Bolton Hospital.
The replacement of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), identified in the existing structure in 2023, is a key element of the unit’s £38 m redevelopment. The Trust says the project will deliver modern facilities for women, babies, and families, across Bolton and beyond, with work carried out in phases to allow maternity services to remain fully open. In addition to the RAAC replacement work, Robertson will also carry out theatre refurbishments, replacing mechanical ventilation and rooftop plant. The first families are expected to be welcomed to the new unit in early 2027.
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust appointed WeBuild Healthcare as main contractor, with Robertson as the delivery partner through Lot 2 of ProCure23, part of Crown Commercial Service’s Construction Works and Associated Services Framework.
Tyrone Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer at the Trust, said: “This is a really exciting time for maternity and women’s health services here in Bolton – the first steps in what will be a fantastic development for families now and for many future years to come.”
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by representatives from the Trust and Robertson Construction North West, with colleagues from the Trust’s Estates partners, iFM Bolton, and women’s health and maternity teams.
Robertson say it is committed to enhancing the lives of the people in the communities it works in, by developing work placements and apprenticeships, and will seek opportunities to do so throughout the project’s lifespan.
Pictured (left to right) are; Robertson Construction North West Senior Site manager, Ethan Hoey; the Trust’s COO, Rae Wheatcroft; Robertson Construction North West Interim Operations director, Richard Yates; Trust CEO, Fiona Noden; director of Midwifery, Janet Cotton; the Trust’s Executive director of Finance, Annette Walker; its director of Operations, Michelle Cox; Tyrone Roberts, and Robertson Construction North West Senior Project manager, Craig Capewell.
Robertson is one of the UK’s largest family-owned construction, infrastructure, property and support services businesses.
