Laing O’Rourke has been chosen as the preferred construction partner for a new hospital project in Scotland, which will replace University Hospital Monklands.

Selected under a pre-construction services agreement, the construction firm will help build a full business case for the Monklands Replacement Project.

Its team will collaborate with patient groups and clinical teams on the design, cost, as well as construction methodology.

Led by NHS Lanarkshire, the project will involve the construction of a ‘modern’ facility that is said to be Scotland's first fully digital and net-zero carbon hospital.

Situated at Wester Moffat near Airdrie, the new facility will house wards with 100% single occupancy rooms.

Other features include operating theatres, along with specialised units for emergency, endoscopy, renal, radiotherapy, imaging, infectious diseases, critical care and outpatient services.

The new hospital's outline business case secured approval from the Scottish Government this July, with the facility slated for launch in 2031.

Laing O’Rourke healthcare sector leader Rory Pollock said: “We are excited to help bring NHS Lanarkshire’s vision to life and to deliver a modern, sustainable hospital that will serve the local community for many decades to come.

“Early engagement like this, including input to the final design, will enable us to fully harness the value our manufacturing-led operating model brings, providing greater programme, quality and cost certainty to the benefit of NHS Lanarkshire.

“We will also draw on our experience from other projects to deliver lasting social value. Our project team will work with local schools, colleges, and businesses to create education, training and employment opportunities.”