Kier confirmed for FM on Welsh cancer hospital

Kier has been confirmed as the facilities management (FM) provider at a major new hospital in Cardiff.

The contractor’s Kier Places arm will carry out the work at the Velindre Cancer Centre (pictured) for a period of 25 years, starting in 2027.

Its duties will include mechanical and electrical maintenance, building fabric maintenance, fire systems and reactive maintenance, energy management, drainage systems, digital management, contract management reporting, health and safety, and helpdesk services.

Kier is part of the Acorn consortium, which landed the hospital contract in August 2022 under the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model for public-private partnerships.

The model is similar to the former Private Finance Initiative, with private suppliers paid a fee for financing, building and maintaining assets, which are then transferred to public ownership at the end of a long-term contract.

After the Acorn consortium closed the deal to build the Velindre centre, Kier signed the contract to deliver FM services.

Among the other companies in the consortium are infrastructure operator and developer Sacyr, investors Abrdn and Kajima Partnerships, and architects White Arkitekter (see box-out for full alphabetical list). 

Contractor Andrew Scott and consultancy Arup were previously members but are no longer listed for the job.

The build of the hospital, which targets a BREEAM ‘excellent’ sustainability rating, is designed to be all-electric, supporting low energy demand and operational carbon.