The £290m project is to be built at the heart of the Royal Cornwall Hospital site in Truro to replace the existing Princess Alexandra Wing.

The proposed 24,500m2 building will bring together the hospital’s maternity services, neo-natal and paediatric care, obstetrics and gynaecology services within one facility.

It would also become the location for the hospital’s new main entrance, transforming the layout of the current site.

The Women and Children’s Hospital programme is currently at outline business case stage and has just gone to the Treasury for next stage approval after budgeted project costs soared from £100m after scope changes.

The outcome of this recommendation is expected in the next few weeks.

BAM is now embarking on a two-year programme of enabling works starting with the demolition of six derelict houses to create the space for a works compound with work also getting underway to relocate car parking for patients and visitors.

Enabling works for the new hospital will continue into 2024 and 2025, with the provision of a new Pathology building and the relocation of Cardiac and Pharmacy services to make way for the new building.

Main building works for the new hospital are due to start in 2025 with the aim of completing the hospital in 2028.

New hospital will also provide a new main entrance for the larger hospital site

The Women and Children’s Hospital is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which is focused on delivering 48 new hospitals across England by 2030.

Graham Kingdon, Construction Director (Western Region), BAM Construct UK, said: “BAM will be working not just inside the hospital environment but also with the local communities in Cornwall to do our best to leave a positive community legacy, as well as an outstanding new hospital.”