We’re pleased to share that Modus has been appointed as Quantity Surveyor and NEC4 Cost Advisor on the new Maternity Department Expansion at QEQM Hospital in Margate.
Working for 2gether Support Solutions under the P23 Framework (NEC4 Option C), this multi-million pound healthcare project will deliver a significant expansion and partial refurbishment of the existing maternity department.
The scheme includes:
• A 3-storey extension
• Two new obstetric theatres
• A new Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
• A dedicated bereavement suite
• Enlarged delivery rooms
• New staff, admin and ancillary areas
• Associated external works and drainage
Due to the extension impacting the existing car park, enabling works include the construction of a new car park (supporting both planning and BREEAM requirements), alongside a new substation to provide the necessary electrical capacity for the expanded facility. Both elements are critical to programme and must be completed ahead of the main build.
Appointed from RIBA Stages 1–7, we produced the Stage 2 cost plan which identified early that the Client budget was tight. Since then, we’ve worked closely with IHP’s commercial team through Stages 3 and 4 to rigorously review, challenge and refine the developing cost plan, ensuring design decisions remain commercially robust and aligned with value-for-money principles.
Key early risks included:
• Budget pressure against an evolving design
• Integration of complex MEP requirements within a live hospital environment
• Programme dependencies around enabling works and infrastructure upgrades
• Maintaining cost certainty under an NEC4 Option C target cost arrangement
With sustainability embedded within the brief, the scheme is targeting BREEAM requirements alongside improved operational efficiency and modern, fit-for-purpose maternity facilities for the local community.
Healthcare projects of this scale and complexity require early cost clarity, constant commercial scrutiny and close collaboration across the project team, we’re proud to be supporting the delivery of such an important facility for East Kent.
We look forward to progressing the scheme through to its anticipated completion in January 2029.
