A key milestone has been reached in the construction of Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s new Coast Building, with the final structural element now in place.
A topping out ceremony was held on Tuesday 10 June to mark the highest point being installed on the four-storey building, which is being delivered by healthcare construction specialist Darwin Group.
The building forms part of the NHS’s New Hospital Programme and is scheduled to open in 2026.
The Coast Building will include 110 new beds, a larger kitchen and catering area, and a total floor area of 10,800 square metres. Designed with sustainability in mind, the facility will also feature photovoltaic panels to support renewable energy use.
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, says the new development will expand patient capacity and help modernise services for communities across the area.
Guests at the ceremony included local MP Tom Hayes, Councillor Millie Earl from BCP Council, senior NHS figures and members of the Trust’s leadership team.
Work began in November last year and continues to be carried out with minimal disruption to hospital operations. The building has been designed and constructed by Darwin Group, working closely with the Trust and partners.
The project is part of a long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure to help meet future demand for hospital care in Dorset.