Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our region’s hospitals

Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme is part of the Government’s national New Hospital Programme as part of a rolling programme of national investment in capital infrastructure beyond 2030.

By creating a network of brand new and refurbished facilities, we’ll help local people live longer, healthier lives. By doing this, we’ll also make Lancashire and South Cumbria a world-leading centre of excellence for hospital care.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria New Hospitals Programme is aiming to address significant problems with our ageing hospitals in Preston (Royal Preston Hospital) and Lancaster (Royal Lancaster Infirmary). We also need to invest in Furness General Hospital’s infrastructure in the context of its strategic importance and geographically remote location.

Proposed sites for new hospitals

In December 2024, the locations were announced for two new potential sites for brand new hospitals to replace Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The proposed site for the replacement of Royal Preston Hospital is land between Stanifield Lane and Wigan Road, south of Stoney Lane in Farington, near to the end of the M65 West.

The proposed site for the replacement Royal Lancaster Infirmary is Bailrigg East, situated north of and in close proximity to Lancaster University.

Proposals for investment in Furness General Hospital’s infrastructure are also in development and will be shared in due course.

A comprehensive review of sites, including plot size, location, motorway access, existing highways infrastructure, public transport, planning and environmental conditions, has been undertaken to assess sites for their suitability. While the local NHS has secured the potential new sites, no final decisions have been made. It is important to emphasise that any such decision would be subject to full public consultation at a later date. The NHS is open to other sites being suggested, which would be subject to the same comprehensive review as the proposed sites.

The NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria wants to hear from patients, residents, colleagues and stakeholders about what a new hospital will mean for them and how the move to a new hospital site might impact them. People will be invited to have their say through a series of public events as well as through a survey, details of which will be shared in the new year.

The existing Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary sites will remain in place and deliver services until new hospital facilities are opened. The local NHS will continue to keep communities involved and provide further updates throughout the process.

The two new hospitals are part of a wider programme of work that is considering how clinical services are configured across all acute hospital sites in Lancashire and South Cumbria to meet the needs of the population in the future in a way that makes the best use of all available resources, with the aim of supporting our communities, bringing jobs, skills and contracts to local businesses and residents.