Building a better UHN
We are embarking on an ambitious journey to transform our facilities and services at Kettering General Hospital, ensuring we meet the growing healthcare needs of Northamptonshire for generations to come.
While delays to the New Hospital Programme have meant some longer-term plans are on hold, we remain committed to making improvements. Across Kettering General Hospital, a number of major projects are already well underway, improving the environment, experience and care we provide for patients, families and staff.
These developments, alongside our sustainability efforts, demonstrate our commitment to creating a modern, resilient and environmentally responsible hospital for the future.
Read more about our Sustainability Plan.
Energy Centre
Work is progressing at pace on our £57m state-of-the-art Energy Centre,which has been designed to support the hospital's existing infrastructure more efficiently and sustainably, while also accommodating future developments.
The project will provide reliable electricity, heating and hot water for patients, visitors and staff, replacing ageing systems with modern, lower-carbon technology, including air source heat pumps, updated heating networks and enhanced electrical infrastructure.
Construction is due to be completed in autumn 2027.
Read more about our Energy Centre
Solar Panels
More than 1,000 rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic) panels have been fitted around the estate. These have been funded as part of a national £100 million package from the new publicly owned energy company Great British Energy.
The panels will help to reduce yearly energy bills by around £150,000 and will add to the hospital's overall energy sustainability. These panels alone will enable us to reduce our carbon emissions by about 188 tons of CO ₂ each year and over the system's lifetime it will be the equivalent of planting 35,570 trees.
Rockingham Wing Extension
We are building a new extension to the Rockingham Wing to create modern maternity and neonatal facilities that will support around 3,000 local families and their babies each year. The development will include a new 32-bed maternity ward, an enhanced Neonatal Unit and a dedicated bereavement suite.
The project follows the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in part of the Rockingham Wing, which required services to be relocated and delayed plans for improving maternity facilities. The new extension will provide high-quality clinical accommodation and help address the challenges created by the loss of existing space.
Proposed Multi-Storey Car Park
Plans include the development of a seven-storey, 655-space multi-storey car park to replace spaces lost through any future redevelopment, ensuring easy and accessible parking for patients, visitors, and staff. This will also include secure parking for staff bicycles and facilities for staff to change.
An application for planning permission has been submitted to North Northamptonshire Council and we await their feedback on the proposed design.
County Mortuary
We were proud to support the development of the new County Mortuary, operated by West Northamptonshire Council, which opened in spring 2026. Although the mortuary is a council-run service, our University Hospitals of Northamptonshire teams worked closely with partners throughout its development to help ensure a smooth and safe launch.
The facility now provides improved spaces for bereaved relatives, enhanced clinical environments and a consistent service for people across Northamptonshire.
