Kier Group has secured the £120m contract to deliver the long-delayed replacement for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, bringing renewed momentum to a project that has faced more than a decade of uncertainty.
The contractor has been appointed by NHS Lothian as principal supply chain partner for the new specialist eye hospital, which will be built at the Edinburgh BioQuarter in Little France.
The project will replace the existing Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, which was declared “not fit for purpose” in 2014 due to concerns over its condition and long-term suitability for modern clinical services.
Since then, the scheme has been subject to repeated delays, including funding withdrawals, budget constraints and changes in government priorities. These issues pushed the anticipated completion date back several times, with opening now expected in late 2027 or later.
An earlier attempt to progress the development saw Graham lined up in 2018 on a £45m contract. However, that proposal stalled as projected costs rose significantly.
Part of the expanding Edinburgh BioQuarter campus
The new eye hospital will sit alongside the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, strengthening the cluster of acute healthcare and research facilities at Edinburgh BioQuarter.
The campus has become a focal point for healthcare infrastructure investment in Scotland, combining clinical services, academic research and life sciences development.
Kier said it will draw on its track record of delivering specialist healthcare projects, including the NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital and Sunderland Eye Infirmary.
Sean Fenner, managing director of Kier Construction North & Scotland, said the company was “proud to be the Principal Supply Chain Partner for NHS Lothian to deliver early construction works at the new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.”
