Plans submitted for new Welsh cancer centre

Detailed plans for a new cancer centre in Cardiff have been submitted for approval.Architectural firm White Arkitekter has submitted documents for the Velindre Cancer Centre to Cardiff Council.A consortium including White Arkitekter, Spanish multinational Sacyr and Kier’s facilities-management arm was picked to lead the project in August. Known as the Acorn Consortium, construction will be undertaken by Sacyr and fellow contractor Andrew Scott, with Kier providing the post-build FM work.The new centre in Llandaff, Cardiff, will be built to low-carbon standards and incorporate materials such as timber that will be locally sourced wherever possible.According to Arkitekter, timber has been specified for the lounge, radiotherapy and waiting areas, while lime and clay will be used as internal materials to contribute to “a calming environment for patients, visitors and staff”.The project is among the first delivered using the Welsh Government’s new Mutual Investment Model for public-private partnerships.The model has similarities 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.Pending planning consent, work on the centre is expected to begin in 2023 with completion expected by 2025.