Nine-strong team of healthcare planners and project managers positioned to support nationwide healthcare growth, with new appointments and sector leadership driving momentum. The healthcare sector at Ridge is growing - and fast. The team is led by Andrew Bray, who relocated from our Oxford office to Birmingham earlier this year to spearhead the sector’s growth. Since then, the team has expanded from a small, focused team of three to now include five project managers and four healthcare planners, each bringing a unique perspective and skillset to the table.

One of the most exciting developments has been the formation of a dedicated healthcare planning team, headed up by Wayne Ashton, a former paramedic who joined Ridge in April 2024. Wayne’s clinical background brings invaluable insight into how healthcare environments function in real life. His team includes professionals from diverse backgrounds – including a nurse, an architect and two better business case practitioners – ensuring that planning decisions are grounded in both patient experience and design practicality. 

Our healthcare planning team is currently working on a number of significant projects, including the design of a new critical care unit, the refurbishment of an Emergency department, the development of an aseptic unit where chemotherapy drugs and patient nutrition are prepared, and the creation of a new endoscopy suite. We are also embarking on several hospital master planning initiatives to further enhance healthcare delivery. 

So, what sets healthcare planners apart from project managers? While project managers focus on delivery, healthcare planners are deeply embedded in the early stages of a project. They understand patient pathways, create stakeholder briefs and schedules of accommodation, develop business cases, and work closely with stakeholders to ensure that hospitals and clinics are designed to work efficiently for both patients and staff. Many remain involved right through the pre-construction phase, helping to shape spaces that are not only functional but future-proof. 

This growing team is also playing a key role in helping other Ridge disciplines expand into the healthcare sector, with recent planner appointments in Liverpool and Cardiff.  

Of course, growth comes with its challenges. Recruitment remains a key hurdle, with demand for skilled professionals outpacing supply. But despite this, the team has gelled quickly – sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and building momentum. 

NHS 10-year plan 

The NHS’s 10-year plan, which was released in July 2025, outlines significant investments in neighbourhood schemes and capital projects. This plan aims to modernise healthcare infrastructure with a £24 billion investment over the next decade, including £5 billion between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to boost diagnostic and emergency departments. Additionally, the plan focuses on reducing RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) and critical infrastructure risks, reversing 15 years of underinvestment, and reforming healthcare delivery by shifting elective care into community hubs. The need for this investment was made clear by the most recent Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) data that identified that there was £15.9bn of backlog maintenance across the NHS estate.   

Evolving delivery models: PFI, PPP and the handback challenge 

As the NHS estate modernises, many hospitals built under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are approaching the end of their terms, with a wave of handbacks to the public sector expected over the next few years. This transition presents both challenges and opportunities: ensuring assets are returned in good condition, managing lifecycle risks, and planning for future use. 

To strengthen our expertise in this area, Ridge has recently appointed Paul Deverill as Head of PFI and PPP. Paul will lead our efforts to support clients through the complex handback process and explore how new Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) models can deliver much needed investment in primary and community healthcare infrastructure. 

The government has signalled its intent to potentially use PPP models for primary and community healthcare, with a business case currently being considered and the outcome is expected to be announced in the Autumn Budget 2025. Any future PPPs are expected to incorporate lessons learned from PFI and other PPP models currently in operation, with a particular focus on greater transparency and flexibility. 

In addition, National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) launched the Infrastructure Pipeline Interactive Portal in July 2025 which provides visibility of upcoming projects, including timelines, funding status, and procurement routes for both public and private infrastructure. Updated every six months, this tool will help stakeholders plan and collaborate more effectively. 

Looking ahead, the outlook is promising. With government funding expected to increase for hospital refurbishments and the rollout of Neighbourhood Health centres, Ridge is well-positioned to support the sector’s evolving needs.  

For more information, visit our healthcare sector page: Healthcare – Ridge and Partners LLP , or reach out to Andy Bray: abray@ridge.co.uk, Paul Deverill: pauldeverill@ridge.co.uk or Wayne Ashton: wayneashton@ridge.co.uk