Brief
Concertus was commissioned on a design and build contract to deliver design services from Stage 4 onwards to create a new Ambulance Hub in Suffolk.
Delivered with Pentaco Construction for East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST), the Ipswich hub is one of 75 projects across England that were awarded part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s £963 million Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STP) Wave Four funding.
Key Info
Location:
Ipswich,Suffolk
Client:
Pentaco Construction
End User:
East of England Ambulance Service Trust
Project Value:
£12.8 million
Contract Type:
Design & Build
Contractor:
Pentaco Construction
Disciplines:
Architecture; Interior Architecture; Health & Safety + CDM
Imagery
“We’re proud to officially open this state-of-the-art hub, which represents a significant investment in our people and the future of ambulance services in Ipswich. This modern, purpose-built facility is a major upgrade from our previous base and has been designed with staff wellbeing and operational performance at its core. It’s a vital step forward in creating the kind of environment that helps our teams thrive and deliver the best possible care to our communities.”
Neill Moloney, Chief Executive, East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Scope
Sustainability is a central focus of the development.
Following the initial review of the Stage 3 drawing package, we worked closely with Pentaco Construction and the end user to agree changes to the package, ensuring full compliance with statutory regulations including Building Control and planning, to facilitate the smooth delivery of the project.
Funding for the project includes £10 million from the Department of Health and Social Care, with EEAST contributing £2.81 million. An additional £109,000 was secured from Great British Energy to support the installation of PV (Photovoltaic) panels.
The hub features innovative technologies and on‑site renewable energy generation, including over 390 m² of PV panels. The building was designed in accordance with BREEAM principles, incorporating the use of legally harvested and responsibly traded timber, high‑quality airtight detailing to ensure a robust building envelope, and water‑saving principles delivered through efficient fixtures and fittings. In addition, a full thermal comfort analysis was undertaken and found to be compliant, further supporting the scheme’s strong environmental performance.
In terms of material specifications, value engineering was applied across the building, ensuring a high-quality yet affordable finish. This included the internal office walls changing from blockwork to metal stud to achieve programme savings while maintaining robust wall finishes. A portal frame was introduced to the garage space, reducing the number of columns required and therefore lowering structural costs without affecting performance.
Testimonial
“This new hub is already making a real difference to our teams and is a significant upgrade from what we had previously at our old site. Having dedicated wellbeing areas where colleagues can take a break, recharge and feel supported makes a huge impact on morale and helps us continue delivering high-quality care to the public.”
Kerry Gaskin, Area Manager, Ipswich Ambulance Hub
Result
As well as creating clean energy, the new hub achieves high levels of sustainability.
The new £12.8 million Ipswich Ambulance Hub comprises dedicated welfare spaces where staff can relax, along with indoor and outdoor gyms, quiet areas, and a wellbeing garden. Additionally, it features a fully integrated vehicle repair workshop and a dedicated vehicle preparation area. This setup supports a 24/7 make-ready and workshop service, which helps clean and restock vehicles, ensuring that more ambulances remain operational on the road.
The PV panels are expected to save up to £10,500 annually, totalling £315,700 over their lifespan, supporting EEAST’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
Close collaboration with Pentaco Construction was instrumental in delivering the project on time and within budget, safeguarding crucial funding application deadlines. Any delay could have jeopardised the availability of funding. To enable the end user to move in quickly, the team ensured that information packages were issued in line with critical milestones and procurement needs, within an extremely tight programme, achieving a significantly faster turnaround than comparable projects of this size.
Designer Behind the Design
“The hub isn’t just a building, it’s a carefully considered environment created to support the wellbeing of those who save lives every day. Working on the new Ipswich Ambulance Hub has been a truly rewarding part of my architectural experience. Collaborating with EEAST provided a valuable opportunity to translate their operational needs into a purpose-built facility that enhances efficiency, comfort and resilience. Being part of a project that will ultimately strengthen the quality of service delivered to the community has been incredibly meaningful, reinforcing the importance of designing spaces that genuinely serve the people who rely them.”
Bradley Dedman, Senior Architectural Designer, Concertus Design and Property Consultants Ltd