Modular is the key to an efficient, sustainable NHS

We need to meet this ambition while ensuring government Net Zero and sustainability criteria is taken into account. By combining rapid, cost-effective offsite construction with built-in flexibility, thoughtful design and supporting Net Zero through construction, materials and integrated renewables, modular will enable the government to deliver high-quality, modern and sustainable facilities at pace across the UK to improve access to healthcare.

The new health centres will be multi-service care facilities, making it easier for patients to get the help they need without navigating multiple systems or locations. These ‘one stop shops’ will bring the right local combination of GPs, nurses, dentists and pharmacists together under one roof to best meet the needs of the community.

Longer term plans

This approach aligns with the government’s wider 10 Year Health Plan for England, published in July 2025, which sets out a long-term vision for transforming the NHS, with neighbourhood health playing a central role. Currently, many people cannot get a GP or dental appointment, waiting lists for hospital and community care have ballooned and staff are demoralised and demotivated. For example, the waiting list for hospital treatment remains higher than pre pandemic levels, and the number of people visiting A&E in 2025 was above pre-pandemic levels.

The government’s approach aims to revitalise access to general practice, while enabling hospitals to focus on providing world class specialist care to those who need it. Specifically at times of heightened demand, for example, when the NHS faces winter overcrowding, community health centres will be used to relieve pressure by offering dependable access to in demand services.

How can this vision be delivered in practice?

To meet the government’s ambitious healthcare infrastructure goals, new health centres must be delivered rapidly, and facilities managers will need to utilise Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to accelerate delivery. For example, modular facilities can be constructed offsite in a factory-controlled environment, then transported and assembled. Because the groundworks and module production can happen simultaneously, the overall process is significantly shortened, often taking just half the time of traditional construction. Factory-controlled processes and shorter timelines help reduce the risk of unexpected issues, such as delays due to onsite weather or staffing problems.

The NHS is likely to face ongoing budget constraints, making the accelerated build times and efficiencies offered by MMC particularly valuable, as offsite construction reduces the risk of costs escalating unexpectedly. Modular solutions provide healthcare organisations with greater financial flexibility, as units can be leased for short or long durations to suit specific needs. This rental model allows Trusts and other healthcare providers to spread expenditure over time, avoiding large upfront costs.

Different models

The leasing model ensures flexibility by allowing Trusts and other healthcare organisations to spend smaller amounts over a given period. This form of transaction is well suited to the NHS whose budget is segmented into CapEx, for investments in buildings and equipment, and OpEx, which covers operational costs and is where leased modular buildings can be classified.

Offsite construction also reduces the level of disruption to the surrounding community, an important consideration given that new neighbourhood health centres will be in busy residential areas. When constructing modular solutions, up to 90 per cent of the build takes place offsite, limiting traffic, congestion or road closures. This is supported by research showing that modular construction can require up to 80 per cent fewer vehicle movements than traditional construction methods.

Offsite manufacturing also allows quality and compliance to be ensured. By producing modules within highly controlled factory environments, manufacturers can enforce stringent quality assurance processes, ensuring that each element meets the technical specifications needed for modern healthcare settings.

Modular is also suited to healthcare environments due to the flexibility it offers, as these buildings can be purposefully designed to be highly adaptable and specific features can be integrated, such as long, clear spans and open plan layouts which allow units to be reconfigured internally as service requirements evolve. Reliant on four structural posts, the rest of the interior infill panels on modular buildings can be adapted to change spaces as and when required. The ability to relocate the modules provides further flexibility. This is particularly valuable for health centres, which must accommodate a wide range of clinical services requiring different equipment and delivery models, including vaccinations, mental health assessments, blood testing, and physiotherapy. As local healthcare needs change, modular facilities can be reconfigured, expanded, or repurposed far more easily than traditionally constructed buildings, effectively future-proofing healthcare infrastructure. This adaptability enables centres to introduce new clinical functions, respond to increases in demand, and integrate emerging models of care and new technologies over time.

Form and function

Modular buildings can combine this functionality with architectural excellence through thoughtful, innovative design. Modules can be fitted with features, such as high ceilings, open-plan layouts, generous internal spaces, and large windows to maximise natural light, which have all been shown to support mental wellbeing and enhance the patient experience. Based on what the specific Trust requires, modules can be designed with careful spatial planning to create accessible, welcoming environments conducive to recovery and breakout and rest areas for staff to promoting morale, wellbeing, and workforce retention.

In 2020, the NHS became the first healthcare system in the world to commit to achieving Net Zero emissions, and it’s crucial that any new construction projects align with decarbonisation targets. Modular offers a fundamentally more sustainable approach than traditional construction by reducing carbon emissions across the entire build lifecycle. Precise, offsite manufacturing minimises waste from the outset, as components are produced to exact specifications, resulting in fewer offcuts and wasted materials. The sustainable procurement and application of materials adds to modular’s green credentials. Timber, light-gauge steel and other responsibly sourced goods are the pillars of modular construction, helping to limit the embodied carbon of the buildings produced.

NHS organisations are increasingly embedding zero‑waste and circular economy principles into their sustainability planning, and modular construction can play a key role in supporting these goals. Circular solutions focus on use and reuse rather than excessive consumption, and the repurposing of modular rental units is among the most circular approaches in construction today. Modules are designed to be easily installed, used, disassembled, and redeployed multiple times. Innovative new technology, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools, can be used to further optimise sustainable design, select low‑carbon materials, and improve circularity across the wider supply chain.

To help the NHS continually lower emissions and become Net Zero in operation while reducing energy costs, modular buildings can be easily fitted with renewable and environmental technology, including solar panels, green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems and ground source heat pumps. These features can be integrated into design from day one to optimise internal environments and save energy.

The NHS is dedicated to reaching Net Zero carbon for its direct emissions (NHS Carbon Footprint) by 2040, and for indirect emissions (NHS Carbon Footprint Plus) by 2045. Scope 3 emissions account for indirect emissions across the value chain, such as building materials, transportation and waste management. By selecting partners who use sustainable materials, reduce waste and optimise the supply chains, healthcare facilities can drastically reduce their environmental impact, and the NHS can come closer to meeting its targets.

Environmental challenges

As the government prepares to deliver a large number of neighbourhood health centres across the UK through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme, the devil will be in the delivery, and estate managers will need to utilise MMC and modular solutions to address both operational and environmental challenges. By enabling rapid, cost-effective delivery, high quality flexible spaces, thoughtful design and cutting-edge sustainable practices, modular buildings will not only reduce disruption and costs, but also support patient care, staff wellbeing, and the NHS’s Net Zero ambitions.