Golden bolt for constructor at hospital build

PRESTON-based Conlon Construction has reached an important milestone in a £30m project to build a private hospital in Ashford, Kent.

A ‘golden bolt’ has been put into place at One Ashford Hospital as part of a ceremony completing the 43,100sq ft steel frame.

The finished framework contains 230 tonnes of steel and forms the structural skeleton for the state-of-the-art healthcare facility.

Completion of the steel frame is a major milestone for the construction project, with Conlon on track to finish in January 2016. It is also a significant achievement for One Healthcare as, once opened, One Ashford Hospital will be the first of a number of planned private hospitals across the UK.

Designed by William Clarke Partnership, the facility will comprise 10 consulting rooms, four operating theatres, four treatment rooms, an endoscopy suite, 20 en-suite rooms, 10 ambulatory care beds and an MRI & imaging suite.

The hospital has been funded by Octopus Healthcare, a UK healthcare property investor. Once opened, it will be managed by a team that has developed and run more than 50 private hospital units and has 50 years’ private healthcare experience.

Michael Conlon, chairman of Conlon Construction, said: “The golden bolt marks a significant point in the fast track programme to deliver this hospital and with the steel framework now complete we’re looking forward to the hospital taking shape quickly.”