Merit, the offsite construction specialist for technically complex, zero-carbon emission buildings has secured a number of significant framework appointments in the first half of the year, including winning a place on the £1.6bn NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Modular Buildings Framework.
NHS Trusts, and a range of other NHS and public sector organisations, are now able to contract Merit Health, the company’s dedicated healthcare and life sciences division, to design and build a wide range of buildings and facilities. Merit’s unique approach centres on a range of standardised Pre-Assembled Modules that can be integrated into tailored client designs, with an emphasis on build speed and low cost, without compromising on quality.
The Company’s offering is especially suitable to meet the needs of healthcare settings, with enhanced infection control included as standard, as well as enabling easy adaptability. In addition, Merit’s modular building concept allows the reduction of whole hospital construction timeframe by 50 percent, compared to traditional building methods.
The NHS SBS modular construction framework acknowledges the benefits provided by novel modular building approaches, including the significant improvement these bring in terms of efficiency. In addition to cost advantages, modular construction also comes with considerably faster delivery times, and minimal on-site disruption. Modular buildings are also a more sustainable option, supporting the NHS to achieve its Net Zero targets.
This latest win follows on from three other recent successes in joining the LHC Framework Agreement for Modular Buildings, the NHS Commercial Solutions modular building solutions framework, and the Countess of Chester Design, Build, Equip Sterile Services and Endoscopy Decontamination Facilities framework.
The four frameworks provide an overall value potential of £2.4 billion.
Tony Wells, Managing Director at Merit, said:
“This excellent run of framework wins for our Merit Health business allows NHS Trusts across the UK to access the benefits of our unique offsite approach to modular construction. The NHS SBS modular framework’s stated ambition is faster, cheaper and greener building solutions, so we are delighted that they have recognised our ability to deliver across these important objectives.
“We passionately believe that the right approach to hospital building can help support the NHS’ net zero carbon commitment. Our innovative zero carbon facility designs are already improving energy efficiency and eliminating fossil fuels, which brings significant operating savings as well as helping tackle climate change.
“All projects called off through these frameworks will be offsite manufactured using our range of patent pending and trademarked offsite manufactured products, here in the North East of England, at our newly-expanded 270,000ft² factory in Cramlington.”
